In Nyiragongo and Masisi, 8,000 households regain prospects thanks to the Emergency Response project
In the Nyiragongo and Masisi territories, the “Emergency Response to WASH, Protection and Livelihoods Needs for IDPs and Host Communities in North Kivu” project, implemented by World Vision with financial support from the U.S. Department of State, has helped restore livelihoods and hope to thousands of crisis-affected households.
In total, 8,000 households received livelihood support: 5,500 households were assisted in developing income-generating activities, while 2,500 individuals benefited from vocational training designed to help them acquire practical skills and gradually build economic self-reliance.
From culinary arts and tailoring to soap-making, hairdressing and beauty care, tanning and basketry, as well as plumbing, mechanics, masonry, electrical work, security services and cleaning, these training programmes offered participants concrete ways to generate income and better meet their families’ needs.
Skills to rebuild lives
For Kuko Rosette, who received training in hairdressing and beauty care, the project marked a real turning point. Before joining the programme, she worked in other people’s fields to support her three children. Today, thanks to the training and the kit she received, she sees the possibility of working for herself.
“This project helped me become self-reliant. I learned to be independent, to plan ahead, and to care for my children. The items World Vision gave me will allow me to have a livelihood, invest, and grow my business. My children will be the primary beneficiaries of this support, because they are the reason I fight.”
For Dorcas Baleyi, hairdressing training also transformed a period of uncertainty into a vision for the future. Having dropped out of school due to a lack of funds, she found a new path through the training.
“I really loved hairdressing. I studied hard and was diligent at the centre. Today, I feel capable of opening my own salon. This support helps me banish negative thoughts and the feeling of dependency. I’m going to look for a strategic location to open my salon and do everything I can to take things further.”
When a kit becomes a source of hope
For many women, the material support they receive represents far more than just equipment; it marks the beginning of an income-generating activity capable of supporting an entire family.
Amina Maombie, who received training in culinary arts, decided to start selling fritters. She explains that this venture already allows her to help meet her children’s needs, particularly for food and clothing, while she hopes to see them return to school.
Meanwhile, Ange Kabwende, trained in tailoring and sewing, plans to combine this new activity with the small-scale trading business she previously ran. Her goal is clear: to work, save money, and ensure her children’s schooling and nutritional needs are met on a daily basis.
For Nadine Maombie, the sewing machine she received marks the start of a new chapter. Having previously lived in a camp for displaced persons while seeking ways to support her family, she can now continue honing her skills while making clothes for her community.
“I am going to become self-reliant because I will start earning my own money.”
The project’s impact goes beyond the income generated. For some participants, having an income-generating activity means regaining self-confidence, gaining recognition within their communities, and looking towards the future with greater peace of mind.
Rehema Ange, a mother of four, explains that before the training, she had no means of earning a living. Today, thanks to her culinary business, she contributes to meeting her children’s needs and hopes to send them back to school.
Mirimo Jokas, a single mother raising twins, now makes and sells fritters in her community. For her, this support, however modest, represents a fresh start.
“Before, I wasn’t respected by my family; I was treated as if I were worthless. Today, everything has changed. I am proud because I can feed and clothe my children. For their sake, I am determined to keep going.”
These stories highlight a shared reality: economic independence can be a powerful driver of dignity, resilience and hope, especially for women and girls affected by displacement and economic hardship.
As the project draws to a close, beneficiaries are looking to the future equipped with new skills, tools and the determination to grow their businesses.
Through these thousands of individual journeys, the project leaves a legacy that extends far beyond the distribution of kits: it has empowered women and families to believe in their own capabilities once again.
As the project concludes, these women move forward with new skills, equipment and, above all, newfound confidence in their ability to shape their own futures. To all the individuals, organisations and partners who believe in their potential, their message is simple: keep investing in their capabilities. Behind every kit distributed lies a family to feed, children to educate and a woman who simply aspires to be self-reliant.