DR Congo: How Falene Left Her Life As a Stone Breaker to Fully Dedicate Herself to her Studies
“Before, I had to break stones after school. Now, I look after my goat and fetch water near my home.” – Falene, 10
At the age of 10, Falene was already shouldering the burden of her family's survival. After school, her afternoons were spent doing backbreaking work: “After class, I had to break stones, which were then sold by my aunt. I always felt exhausted.”
Today, Falene's life is gradually changing. Thanks to the Nexus Accelerator Fund project in Nyemba in Tanganyika province, the fourth-grade girl has regained her childhood.
“Now, when I come home from school, I take care of my goat and fetch water from the well that was built near my house. I now have enough time to play with my friends.”
The strongest symbol of this new security is the small herd growing behind her house. The goat she received, and which she takes such good care of, has already given birth. This event, much more than just good news, represents a concrete turning point: the family's first capital has reproduced, transforming a gift into real wealth. It is tangible proof that the aid has taken root and is already bearing fruit.
This personal transformation is part of a broader collective change. Falene's mother is one of 750 people organised into 30 savings groups, each of which received $1,200 (a total of $36,000) to develop income-generating activities. This economic inclusion has freed Falene from forced labor.
At the same time, the family benefits from the water point that serves more than 1,000 displaced households and host families in Nyemba. This dual economic and health impact is crucial in an area facing food insecurity and cholera epidemics.
The goat that Falene proudly cares for is not just a pet. It is living capital, a symbol of resilience in a community that has experienced cyclical displacement and livestock looting. It is also the embodiment of renewed hope: Falene no longer invests her strength in stones, but in her education and in a future she can finally imagine with peace of mind.
Falene's journey illustrates how the efforts of the Nexus project, despite security and health challenges, are transforming not only living conditions but also destinies. From a tired little worker, she has become a schoolgirl who plays with her friends, while around her, life symbolized by the birth of the goats, is returning to normal.