Help Build a Skills Centre for Women & Youth

Dear Friends,

Every strong community begins with opportunity. In eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, thousands of young people, widowed women, and orphans continue to face unemployment, poverty, and the lasting effects of conflict. Many have the determination to build a better future but lack access to vocational training, safe learning spaces, and practical opportunities.

Our project, Help Build a Skills Centre for Women & Youth, was created to respond to this urgent need. With a total budget of US$125,000, the project will establish a vocational training centre in Goma where vulnerable women and young people can gain practical skills, restore their confidence, and rebuild their lives.

Although we are still at the beginning of this journey, we are encouraged by the support already received and remain confident that, together with our valued partner GlobalGiving and generous donors around the world, we will achieve this important goal.

Current Project Status

The project is scheduled to officially begin in November 2025.

During this preparation phase, our team is conducting the essential groundwork needed to ensure successful implementation. We are currently:

• Identifying and selecting qualified vocational trainers.
• Registering vulnerable young people, widowed women, and orphans who will participate in the first training sessions.
• Preparing the implementation plan and community mobilization activities.
• Coordinating with local stakeholders to ensure the future training centre responds to the real needs of the community.

These preparatory activities are critical to laying a strong foundation for the project and ensuring that every future investment delivers lasting impact.

Funds Received and Their Use

Thanks to the generosity of our first supporters, the project has so far received US$154.

These initial funds have already been used to support the first field activities, particularly the identification and assessment of communities and beneficiaries who will benefit from the vocational training programme. This work allows our team to prepare an efficient and inclusive implementation strategy before construction begins.

While this amount represents only a small step toward the overall budget, it demonstrates that every contribution—no matter its size—creates real progress on the ground.

Expected Impact

Once fully funded, the project will construct and equip:

• A modern vocational training centre with 12 classrooms.
• An administrative building.
• Safe and durable sanitation facilities.

Following construction, the centre will provide six months of vocational training in sewing, carpentry, literacy, and other practical skills for vulnerable women, young people, and orphans.

The impact will extend far beyond the classroom.

Women will gain the skills to generate income and better support their families. Young people will develop pathways toward employment and entrepreneurship instead of remaining trapped in unemployment. Orphans will have access to education and practical training that can restore dignity and independence.

Over the years, the centre will continue welcoming new learners, creating lasting opportunities and contributing to stronger, more resilient communities across Goma and surrounding territories.

Looking Ahead

Our immediate priority is to complete fundraising so construction can begin as planned.

We remain optimistic because of our partnership with GlobalGiving, whose platform connects inspiring local projects with compassionate supporters across the world. Together, we believe we can mobilize the resources needed to transform this vision into reality.

Every new donation brings us one step closer to opening the doors of a training centre that will continue changing lives for many years to come.

Thank You

We extend our sincere gratitude to GlobalGiving for believing in locally led solutions and for providing a trusted platform where our project can reach supporters worldwide.

We are equally grateful to every donor who has already contributed. Your generosity is helping lay the foundation for a future where vulnerable women and young people have the opportunity to learn, work, and thrive.

A Call to Action

Today, this project needs your support more than ever.

A vocational training centre is more than a building—it is a place where hope is rebuilt, confidence is restored, and futures begin.

By making a donation, you are not simply funding construction. You are helping a widowed mother earn a living, giving an orphan the opportunity to learn a profession, and offering a young person the chance to choose work instead of despair.

Together, we can build a place where opportunity replaces poverty and where skills create lasting change for generations to come.

Thank you for standing with the people of Goma and for believing that every life deserves the chance to succeed.