Aru, DRC — On Saturday, June 4, the Office of Personal Representative (OPR) in Charge of the Fight against Violence and Child Recruitment welcomed Mark Bristow, CEO of Randgold Resources, in Ituri, during one stop on his fundraising motorbike journey across central Africa which will conclude in Muanda, DRC at the end of the month. Dubbed Safari Kwa Afrika Bora, Swahili for "Riding for a Better Africa", Bristow's journey aims to raise $3 million for the independent charitable foundation Nos Vies en Partage, established by Randgold in 2014.
Recent polling conducted by UNDP and the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative indicates that the youth in the eastern portions of the DRC are joining the armed groups fueling longstanding regional instability because they see no other future prospects and lack access to education and professional training. This reality has driven the OPR to expand economic inclusion and vocational training initiatives to the cities of Aru and Bunia in Ituri, expanding upon programs already being implemented in Goma.
Nos Vies en Partage, which roughly translates to "Sharing Prosperity", has worked in partnership with the OPR to provide direct support to the National Institute for Professional Preparation (INPP) by funding programs which support the socio-economic reintegration of victims of sexual violence, former child soldiers, and vulnerable members of the community in a region which has endured a long legacy of conflict.
Bristow, who provided brief remarks at the vocational training center, noted that when Randgold initially considered investing in the DRC they were discouraged by others in the private sector. "However, we believe in this business and have invested over $2 billion in the DRC. Since then, we have worked in agreement with the Congo to move forward, and this is precisely the meaning of the foundation Nos Vies en Partage. The most important thing to do is to assign goals to advance, despite difficulties, in order to achieve them. We have seen the reaction of the community, the programs developed, and the impact they are beginning to have - it is already something good. We will do our best to continue this journey together," Bristow said. To date, Nos Vies en Partage has contributed $125,000 to vocational training programs in Aru and Bunia.
"Supporting young, demobilized soldiers is our shared responsibility – we cannot leave anyone behind if we hope to build a sustainable peace."
Bristow and the OPR visited the INPP's program in Aru to evaluate the effectiveness of training and to interact with program participants. The OPR continues to support the monitoring and evaluation of the programs and the selection of participants. "Supporting young, demobilized soldiers is our shared responsibility – we cannot leave anyone behind if we hope to build a sustainable peace," said Jeanine Mabunda, the President's Personal Representative in Charge of the Fight against Sexual Violence and Child Recruitment in the DRC.
The INPP officially launched their training program in April 2016 with 74 trainees attending classes in cosmetology, sewing, mechanical engineering, information technology, driving, and office support services. "This funding has had a very positive effect on the population of Aru. With the awarded money we were able to purchase equipment, like computers and sewing machines, and we were able to construct buildings, which has enabled us to increase the number of program participants. We expect to train at least 250 people by the end of the year, and hope to reach 400 over a two year period," said Maxime Mémoire Bateke, the Provincial Director of the INPP in Aru.
Germaine Yangala, the only woman to complete training to become a professional driver, expressed her gratitude for the program. "I am very happy for the training. Previously, I did not know anything about cars. After receiving this certificate, I could have the opportunity to find work as a driver in a company. I encourage other women to come to this training because it is not reserved only for men," Yangala said.
Similar vocational training programs, funded by the government of the DRC and Congolese state partners, have been launched in Kibumba and Rutshuru in North Kivu, as well as in Bunia, and have promoted access to microcredit, psychological support, and social empowerment.
"Our partnership with Randgold marks a significant milestone, as the private sector is now rallying public efforts to address sexual violence and child recruitment in the DRC."
"Our partnership with Randgold marks a significant milestone, as the private sector is now rallying public efforts to address sexual violence and child recruitment in the DRC. I would like to call on other private sector companies to follow their example – seek out partnerships because together, we can have great impact. By creating opportunities through economic inclusion we are helping to cement the peace and the DRC's track to broader development," said Mabunda.
While the OPR initially sought financial support from the Congolese government, and from other public sector partners, including the Japanese government, they have expanded their outreach to obtain private sector support for programs which combat sexual violence and child recruitment, and are helping to secure a more stable future for the DRC.
Photo essay: Randgold CEO Brings Hope and Assistance to Former Child Soldiers and Survivors of Sexual Violence in DRC
In 2014, President Joseph Kabila appointed Jeanine Mabunda to serve as Personal Representative in Charge of the Fight against Sexual Violence and Child Recruitment. Over the past two years, her office has worked to fight impunity, resource civilian and military justice systems, provide critical services to victims, empower women and girls, and mobilize society to stop sexual violence in the DRC. Jeune Afrique magazine has named her one of the 50 most influential African women. In May 2016 she was presented with the Better World Award in Monaco for her ongoing humanitarian work.
