Reintegrating former child soldiers in DRC through vocational training
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£1,970
Through hands-on vocational training in welding, carpentry, and fitting, alongside psychosocial support and structured daily routines, the project helps former child soldiers in Eastern Congo rebuild confidence, gain practical skills, and move towards stable livelihoods. The goal is to reduce the risk of re-recruitment into armed groups and open pathways into dignified work and community life.
- Region 🇨🇩 Congo (DRC)
- Sector Education
- Beneficiaries 20
- Stage Pilot
This project grew out of the work of Alain Bayongwa, founder of World Hope Givers (WHG), an organisation based in Eastern DRC.
Alain has worked with emergency doctor Nicolas Fesser (Fesser & Friends) for years, supporting children affected by armed conflict around Goma. Many were forcibly recruited into armed groups or pushed onto the streets. Most carried trauma and had lost access to education and family.
At a care centre in Goma, the team started with immediate needs: food, shelter, safety, and therapy. Over time, they saw that the biggest turning point came when young people learned a trade they could use to earn money. Welding, carpentry, and metal fitting gave them practical skills and income options (and a reason to stay out of armed groups).
Why this matters
Conflict with armed groups such as M23 has displaced thousands of people in North Kivu, and children are among the most affected. Local estimates suggest that hundreds of children in Goma alone are either ex-combatants or living on the streets with little or no support.
Many of these young people experience ongoing violence, hunger, and exclusion. Existing programmes often provide short-term shelter or rapid reunifications, but do not always ensure that children have the skills and support needed for long-term stability.
By investing in vocational skills and emotional healing, this project:
Reduces the risk of re-recruitment into armed groups.
Supports dignified, sustainable incomes through small cooperative businesses.
Strengthens community cohesion by preparing families and neighbourhoods to welcome young people back.
Puts children’s rights into practice through access to education, protection, and development opportunities.
What this project will change
Over three months semesters, cohorts of young people will transition from extreme vulnerability towards safer, more stable futures.
Each participant will:
Join a structured training programme in carpentry, welding, or metal fitting.
Take part in daily activities that support healing, including music, sport, and group sessions.
Receive regular meals and secure shelter during the training period.
Work with trained psychologists and social workers to process trauma and plan next steps.
By the end of the semester:
Young people will have completed hands-on training in at least one trade.
Groups of five will be equipped with start-up toolkits to launch small cooperative projects.
Participants will be linked to local savings groups and community-based support.
The wider impact includes families and community members who see children returning not as "former soldiers" but as apprentices, workers, and neighbours with something to contribute.
Technical stuff
The Details
- Young people trained in trades 0
Updates
From the field
20 former child soldiers in eastern Congo receive tools and begin vocational training
Posted 9 Feb 2026
On 6 January, we brought trainers and teachers together to confirm working agreements and revise training schedules. We bought welding torches, hammers, saws, chisels, measuring tools, and protective gear. On 15 January, we distributed these tools to 20 participants so they could begin their vocational training.
The materials and tools cost $2,688, funded by Kwanda. This covered welding and metalwork materials ($1,409) and carpentry materials ($,279). Teachers' payments for three months (U$480) and transportation of materials ($120) were covered by local partners Fesser and Friends and World Hope Givers. We have $642 remaining from the Kwanda grant for ongoing training needs.
With training underway, we will continue teaching vocational skills and mentoring. We plan to connect graduates with local apprenticeships and business opportunities over the coming months. We will also continue to provide counselling and mentorship for participants who need extra emotional support.
Activities:
Restarted project activities after the holidays on 6 January
Held a meeting with trainers and teachers and confirmed working agreements
Purchased vocational training materials
Distributed tools and materials to 20 participants on 15 January
Reminded everyone of project goals on skills development and earning income during the event
Shamuyiri J., a project participant, shared:
I am very happy to receive this support because it will help me become responsible for my life and not return to the armed group where I once believed I could find a future. Every day, I prayed to God to help me find meaningful work not as a child soldier, but as a man doing skilled manual work. Now I am hopeful. When I finish my training, I plan to return to my village in Masisi to find my mother and support her with food. I will also encourage other child soldiers to leave the bush and seek opportunities like this where they can learn a trade or return to school because staying in armed groups is a waste of time. I thank WHG and its partners, Kwanda and Fesser and Friends, for giving us new hope through this programme.