DR Congo: More than 300 women empowered

By Badylon Kawanda Bakiman

In Kikwit, an economic and political town in the Kwilu province in the south-west of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), over 300 women and girls have just been sensitized and awakened to become autonomous and take charge of their own lives in the near future through women's entrepreneurship. The Darine Mushila Foundation, one of the DRC's civil society structures, has endeavored to carry out this activity as part of Women's Month, to ensure that the economic and political rights of these women are respected by all.

The awareness-raising activity took place on Friday, March 28, 2025 in the large hall of the “Grand Hôtel de Kikwit” built by former Prime Minister Adolphe Muzito in the commune of Lukolela, in the presence of political and administrative authorities, the Ministry of Youth, the Urban Youth Council, the Ministry of Gender, Family and Children and other guests. It was a fitting occasion for these women and girls to commit themselves to creating income-generating activities in the near future.

"We need empowered women in this city of Kikwit, which has over a million inhabitants. That these women don't always wait for their husbands or other people. That they don't get into the habit of begging all the time. That they create lucrative activities. A woman's independence is her freedom. If she is free, she solves many problems herself, and other helpers can come afterwards", explained Darine Mushila, founder of the foundation, in her presentation.

Mushila insisted that empowering women does not give them the right to disrespect their husbands or others.

Gaelle Mayanga, one of the participants, elucidated the philosophy behind the event: "We have come together not only to take stock of this month, but above all to renew our commitment. Women's empowerment is not an abstract concept, but a necessity. It requires education, access to economic opportunities, and active participation in social, economic and political life".

To awaken the conscience of all these women and girls, Adéline Kilapi, one of the women leaders, first drew a comparative picture between the traditional woman, whose role was only to prepare and bear children, and today's emancipated woman, who must work like a man.
“If women are autonomous, the family, the neighborhood, the commune, the city, the province, the country and the whole world will develop”, she added, presenting a brief history of the genesis of International Women's Day.

Justine Kakesa, another woman leader from the town of Kikwit, gave a personal account of her own life, describing the efforts she had made to become self-sufficient. She spoke of the application of appropriate technology to process agricultural produce, and selling to obtain financial resources. She encouraged other women to do the same.

Present at the event, the political and administrative authorities welcomed the activity and invited the Darine Mushila Foundation to multiply such initiatives.

"Empowerment strategies help women increase their bargaining power, build self-confidence and increase their autonomy in decision-making. They offer them the choice and power to act for their own safety and that of their families", recognizes UN Women.
The same organization notes that the interventions deployed as part of this strategy help to increase women's and girls' self-confidence, their sense of self-efficacy and their assertiveness and negotiating skills.