Proposal to vote on, by Monday 24 Nov
Restoring dignity in DRC through vocational training for former child soldiers
Funds required: £2,000
Local partner:
Alain Bayongwa

Summary

This is a proposal to fund a three-month project in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo , supporting 20 vulnerable adolescents who are former child soldiers and street-involved youth. If passed, this project will help these youth reintegrate into society by providing them with vocational training in welding, carpentry, and fitting, as well as psychosocial support and pathways to economic reintegration through micro-projects and job placements.

This project was born out of the work of Alain Bayongwa, founder of World Hope Givers (WHG), an NGO based in Eastern DRC. Working closely with communities affected by armed conflict, Alain witnessed firsthand the toll it took on children: those forcibly recruited into armed groups, and others left to survive alone on the streets.

Alongside long-time partner and emergency doctor Nicolas Fesser of Fesser & Friends, Alain helped establish a care centre in Goma focused on demobilising and healing children with histories of violence, trauma, and abandonment. They noticed a crucial turning point in the children's journeys: while food, shelter, and therapy provided short-term stability, it was access to skills and income that truly changed lives.

With limited schooling and ongoing risk of re-recruitment, the team began offering vocational training in practical trades. Soon, young people who had once held weapons were crafting furniture, welding metal, and planning small businesses. The transformation was profound: the same hands once used for war were now building futures.

Why this matters

Conflict with armed groups such as M23 has left thousands displaced, and children are the most vulnerable. A 2025 child protection survey estimated over 800 children in the city are either ex-combatants or living on the streets—a figure that local experts believe is significantly underreported.

These children face deep trauma, hunger, and exclusion. Government and NGO efforts often fall short, focusing on temporary shelter or rushed family reunifications that don’t ensure long-term stability or safety. Worse, without viable paths to earn a living, many children are pulled back into armed groups or criminal networks.

This project exists to address that gap by providing sustainable reintegration through technical skills that offer both income and purpose. It works to prevent re-recruitment by reducing economic desperation and promotes community cohesion through support and sensitisation that foster acceptance. It also puts children’s rights into action by ensuring access to education, protection and development. Ultimately, it aims for sustainable empowerment through trades that build independence and encourage local growth.

What the project will change

This project will impact the lives of 20 young people, former child soldiers and street-involved adolescents, by supporting their training into skilled tradespeople.

Each young person will receive structured, hands-on training in carpentry, welding, or metal fitting.

Beyond skills, the project offers healing. Through daily structure, music therapy, sport, and sessions with trained psychologists, these young people begin to process trauma and regain a sense of self-worth.

And when the training ends, the support doesn’t. Each participant will receive a start-up kit and join a small group business, supported by local cooperatives and savings groups.

Attachments

Please find the supportive attachments for your review here:

That's all!

Please cast your vote by Monday 24 Nov, and if you have any questions regarding the proposal you can reach out to the Kwanda team on team@kwanda.co