DR Congo: From One Goat to Lasting Change: Mujinga Claudine’s Journey to Resilience

In the community of Maisha, in Mutshatsha Territory of Lualaba Province, the impact of a livelihoods project is best understood through individual stories. Among them is Mujinga Claudine, a divorced mother of eight who also cares for several orphans. For years, she carried the heavy responsibility of supporting her extended household under conditions of severe hardship, where meeting basic needs, such as food, school fees, and shelter, was a daily struggle.

“Before, we were living in hardship. We had almost nothing, and it was very difficult to meet the children’s needs,” she recalls.

Claudine’s journey is part of the Technical Program on Livelihoods, launched in 2023 to strengthen household resilience. The initiative reached 169 beneficiaries, including 76 households supported through goat rearing and 486 savings group members, most of them women. Targeting the most vulnerable families, the programme combined material support with capacity-building to ensure sustainable change.

For Claudine, transformation began even before she received any livestock. Having joined the project in 2022, she participated in training sessions on project management, savings groups, agriculture, and livestock practices. These skills laid a strong foundation, enabling her to make effective use of the support provided.

“World Vision did not only help us with material support. They also taught us how to move forward, how to manage better, and how to believe that change was possible,” she explains.

Claudine initially received just one goat. While modest, this asset became the starting point of a steady transformation. Through careful management and reproduction, her herd grew to five goats and eventually to seven. This progress illustrates how even small productive assets can evolve into reliable sources of resilience.

Her experience reflects a broader trend in Maisha. Despite challenges such as animal diseases, at least 30 beneficiary households reported successfully managing their livestock, enabling them to cover essential expenses like healthcare and education. Many households that started with a single goat now own three or more.

For Claudine, the benefits have been immediate and tangible. Selling one goat allowed her to buy a bed for a child who had previously slept on the floor. Another sale helped pay school fees, reinforcing her commitment to her children’s well-being and future.

“By selling one goat, I was able to buy a bed for my child. With another one, I paid school fees. Today, I can truly see that there is change in my life and in the lives of the children,” she says.

Beyond livestock, Claudine joined a savings group, an essential component of the programme. This strengthened her ability to save, plan, and respond to unexpected needs. Today, her influence extends beyond her household. She serves on the management committee of a local partner organisation, where she is recognised as an active and reliable contributor.

“Today, I am no longer only a beneficiary. Thanks to the training and the experience I have gained, I can also play a useful role for others,” she says with pride.

Claudine’s story is part of wider community progress. In 2025, agricultural support contributed to the production of at least 60 tonnes of maize, helping reduce local prices and improve food availability. The project also supported education and housing, including the construction of three classrooms for 375 children and the provision of building materials to 35 households.

These results highlight the strength of an integrated approach, combining livelihoods, food security, education, and improved living conditions. Claudine’s personal transformation reflects a broader dynamic of community development.

Looking ahead, she remains focused on the future. Her goal is to continue expanding her herd so she can invest in better housing for her family.

“My wish now is to continue with livestock rearing so that I can buy roofing sheets and improve our house. I want to offer a more dignified place to the children and the orphans in my care,” she explains.

Mujinga Claudine’s journey shows that when productive assets are combined with skills, support, and community systems, they can do more than generate income. They can restore dignity, strengthen families, and create lasting hope. In Maisha, her seven goats are not just livestock, they are a powerful symbol of transformation in progress.