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“In the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, FDH supports economic activities
developed by women in the Bukavu region.” |
| APEF :
Since 1998, FDH supports the Association for
the Promotion of Women Entrepreneurs (APEF), which groups
together several hundred low-income women. In order
to make ends meet, these women have organized in order
to create their own economic activity: small commerce
of various products (food, clothing, and soap) and micro-enterprises
in the service sector (sewing and workers’ canteens).
In order to escape from loan-sharks, who made the women
economically dependent, the women have put in place
a rotating socially responsible micro-credit system,
so that loan payments can go toward giving new loans
to others.
Outside the dimension of economic development, this
project contributes to improving the place of women
in their families and their communities. Additionally,
in this politically troubled region, this project stimulates
dialogue between families from different ethnic backgrounds,
and thus helps restore peace.
To find out more about this project, click
here. |
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Project co-financed
by the French Ministry
of Foreign Affairs
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| Two wars, in
1996 and 1998, brought about a serious economic and
political crisis that persists in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo. Insecurity, unavailability of food supplies,
price instability, increasing taxes, and unemployment
all make up daily life for the population. Faced with
this difficult reality, a group of women decided to
form APEF in order to develop their own economic activity,
provide for their family’s needs, and work toward
peace. © FDH |
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| Thanks to their
strong mobilization, training in management and sewing,
and a micro-credit system they set up, the women were
able to create their own revenue-generating economic
activity. They have become restaurant-owners, seamstresses,
and syrup-makers. After having moved from subsistence-level
revenue to higher levels of income, many families
have seen their quality of life increase significantly.
For example, some of the women were able to build
more permanent buildings, or buy their own sewing
machine, thanks to their savings. © FDH |
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| In a country
that for many years has suffered from a drawn-out
war, and where ethnic and religious differences are
used as political weapons, APEF pays special attention
to encouraging interaction between members of different
ethnicities and different religions, in order to encourage
dialogue and promote peace.
© FDH |
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| So that these
women can benefit from training and high-quality equipment,
FDH and APEF have started a training center that is
already operational, although the building is still
being built. © FDH |
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Democratic Republic of Congo
