From survivors to agents of change

Nearly 7 million people have been forced to flee their homes as a result of conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The majority are children and young people surviving in overcrowded camps, facing poverty, violence and isolation.

Like all young Congolese, those displaced by violence aspire to forge their own future and that of their country, despite the challenges.

Justin, aged 26, recalls fleeing his home and his arrival at the Bulengo camp in Goma, full of apprehension and nostalgic memories of his native village.

"One evening, I heard shooting. We had no choice but to leave everything behind and walk for miles and miles,” he explains. “When I arrived here, I felt lost. I found it hard to fit in and I was very lonely."

Justin is one of many thousands of young people living in displacement camps in eastern DRC. Faced with this reality, members of the U-Report community in Goma went to the sites to offer their support, listen to their displaced peers and show their solidarity. U-Reporters are a group of young community volunteers who voice their concerns, find solutions and act for positive change.

They encouraged the young, displaced people in Bulengo to get together, organise themselves and establish the first U-Report community in a displacement camp in DRC. 

At the same time, they advocated for more support for young people in the camps. As a result, Ministry of Youth and UNICEF launched a special edition of the U-Report Tour in around 20 camps to help young people become autonomous and act as agents of change.

During the first days of the U-Report Tour, the young participants were given basic information and learned skills to make better decisions, claim their rights and organize themselves as a community.

"The training showed me that we can create something positive even in difficult times and gave me the confidence to speak out and act for the good of the community," says 28-year-old Sebashitsi.

The young people chose an activity that would enable them to generate an income and support themselves. They could learn soap-making, hairdressing, pastry-making or sewing – activities that are very much in demand in the camps.

"I've set up my own doughnut business and I sell the doughnuts in the camp,” explains 24-year-old Jeanine, who received the equipment and advice she needed to launch her small operation. “I don't rely on humanitarian aid anymore because I can provide for my own needs.”

After a week of training and learning, the young people are encouraged to form communities and take action to improve the quality of the lives of the children, young people and families in their camp.

These communities have started activities to improve cleanliness at the sites and grow small vegetable gardens. They also receive a computer and two smartphones to make it easier for them to find information and opportunities online.

More than 1,200 displaced young people in nearly 20 camps benefited from this special edition of the U-Report Tour, which was entirely co-created with young people.  

They also encouraged more than 20,000 young people to make their voices heard through the virtual U-Report platform, developed by UNICEF.

"Becoming a U-Reporter has opened me up to the world and made me feel accepted,” says 20-year-old Esther Nyota Mapendo, who lives in the Shabindu-Kashaka camp. “I've gained self-confidence and I've understood the importance of getting involved in the service of my community."

The involvement of young U-Reporters in the camps of eastern DRC demonstrates how empowering young people can transform their role from survivors to agents of change, even in times of crisis and uncertainty.