DR Congo: When a Project Ends, Protection Lives On Through the Legacy Carried by Communities in North Kivu

On 31 July 2026, the Emergency Response to WASH, Protection and Livelihood Needs of IDPs and Host Communities in North Kivu project, implemented by World Vision with funding from the U.S. Department of State, officially came to an end. While this date marked the conclusion of project-funded activities, it did not mark the end of the transformation they set in motion.

Over the past months, thousands of children, women, and families found safe places where they could learn, play, express themselves, heal, and regain hope for the future. As community members reflect on their experiences, one message stands out clearly: the project's greatest legacy lies not in the infrastructure it built, but in the lives it transformed.

Under the Protection sector, the project established three Child-Friendly Spaces (CFSs) and two Safe Spaces across the Kirotshe and Nyiragongo health zones. Combined with psychosocial support, case management, community awareness sessions, and capacity strengthening for local actors, these protective environments enabled children, women, and girls to recover from trauma, rebuild their confidence, and reconnect with their communities.

A Childhood Restored

In Mujoga, Rehema, a mother of two, witnessed this transformation firsthand.

Before the project, her children spent much of their time wandering through fields or around cemeteries because there were no safe places where they could spend their days. Today, they eagerly attend the Child-Friendly Space, where they learn, play, and build healthy relationships with other children.

"My children have changed so much. They no longer want to go to the fields or the cemeteries. They would rather spend their time at the Child-Friendly Space. As a family, we feel relieved knowing they are in a safe place."

The impact extends far beyond recreational activities. Through awareness sessions held at the Child-Friendly Space, Rehema's daughter has also acquired practical knowledge that has helped her navigate adolescence with greater confidence.

"My daughter is now able to manage her menstrual period on her own with confidence."

For Rehema, the Child-Friendly Space became far more than a place for children to play. It evolved into a protective environment where her children rebuilt their self-esteem, developed essential life skills, and regained the carefree childhood that displacement had taken away.

Helping Children Heal

The same transformation has been witnessed by those working with children every day.

Jeph Kabendera, a Child-Friendly Space facilitator, recalls that many children arrived carrying the emotional scars of conflict. Some isolated themselves, refused to interact with others, or were too frightened to speak or participate in group activities.

Through structured play, psychosocial support, and individual counselling, these children gradually regained confidence and found their voices again.

"Children who were once afraid to speak are now confidently expressing themselves in front of others. Those who used to stay alone now play with their friends. They have learned to share, support one another, and express their emotions."

For Jeph, seeing children smile again after experiencing trauma remains one of the project's greatest achievements.

Safe Spaces That Restored Dignity

The project also brought profound change to the lives of women and girls attending the Safe Spaces.

Amida Yvette, a community mentor, remembers a time when survivors of gender-based violence suffered in silence, believing they had nowhere to turn for help.

Through awareness sessions, peer support groups, and referrals to specialised services, that reality began to change.

"Before, many women remained silent because they didn't know where to seek help after experiencing violence. Today, they know they can receive medical care, access support services, and continue living with dignity within their communities."

Beyond facilitating access to services, the Safe Spaces became places of healing, solidarity, and empowerment. Women found the confidence to share their experiences, support one another, and gradually rebuild their dignity.

"Women kept coming because they felt safe here. This space became the heart of many women's lives."

Communities Taking Ownership

The project also transformed the way communities understand and protect children.

For several months, community volunteer Rafiki Noela led awareness sessions with families throughout her community. Today, she sees tangible evidence that attitudes and behaviours have changed.

"People now understand what child protection means. Cases of violence have decreased, children know their rights, and they have become more confident in their relationships with their parents."

Although she values the knowledge she personally gained through the project, what makes her proudest is seeing parents and children embrace new behaviours that create a safer environment for everyone.

Local authorities share the same commitment.

Bukoko Chadrack, Chief of Kanyaruchinya locality, believes the project's success was made possible through the strong partnership between local communities and World Vision.

"We are committed to safeguarding the equipment and infrastructure provided through the project and to continuing our collaboration with community volunteers so that children remain protected."

For him, sustaining the project's achievements is a shared responsibility. Community-based committees established during the project will continue monitoring key protection activities, while local authorities remain committed to safeguarding the facilities and investments made for the well-being of children.

A Legacy That Lives Beyond the Project

Although the project has officially come to a close, community leaders have pledged to protect the infrastructure and equipment provided while continuing to work alongside volunteers to ensure that its achievements continue benefiting children and families.

Together, these testimonies tell the story of a project that accomplished far more than constructing facilities. It restored hope to children affected by conflict, helped women reclaim their dignity, and strengthened communities' ability to protect their most vulnerable members.

While humanitarian needs remain immense as displacement continues across North Kivu, the changes witnessed throughout the project demonstrate that investing in protection creates lasting impact. Today, community volunteers, mentors, facilitators, and local authorities possess the skills, knowledge, and commitment needed to continue fostering safer and more resilient communities.

Beyond the three Child-Friendly Spaces and two Safe Spaces established through the project, its greatest legacy is profoundly human: children who smile again, women who have regained confidence and dignity, and communities that are now better equipped to prevent, identify, and respond to protection risks.

Long after the project has ended, that legacy will continue to live on through the people who carry it forward every day.

This version strengthens the narrative arc, improves transitions between sections, removes repetition, uses consistent British English (for example, counselling, behaviours, specialised), and finishes with a more powerful conclusion that reinforces the sustainability of the project's impact.