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🇨🇩 DR Congo /Economy & Trade

470+ Youths Trained in Entrepreneurship in Kananga to Combat Unemployment

From Radio Okapi · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • At least 470 young people are participating in an entrepreneurship training program in Kananga, Kasaï-Central province, from May 13-19.
  • The training, initiated by the Provincial Youth Council, aims to equip participants with job creation skills to combat high youth unemployment in the DRC.
  • The initiative seeks to foster economic autonomy among youth, who often turn to the informal sector due to limited opportunities and structural economic challenges in the province.

In the heart of the Democratic Republic of Congo, specifically in Kananga, a vital initiative is underway to empower the nation's youth. The Provincial Youth Council has launched an entrepreneurship training program, bringing together over 470 young individuals eager to break free from the cycle of unemployment.

This program is more than just a skills workshop; it's a beacon of hope in a region grappling with significant economic challenges. With unemployment rates soaring, particularly among the youth, the DRC faces a critical need for innovative solutions. The training directly addresses this by focusing on equipping participants with the tools to become job creators, rather than just job seekers.

This training will help me, because there are not many jobs in our country. I want to learn to create jobs instead of looking for them elsewhere. Here, in Kasaï-Central, there are not enough opportunities. We can also launch our own initiatives.

— a young person from KanangaExpressing the motivation and perceived benefits of the entrepreneurship training program.

Local youth express a strong desire to develop their own revenue-generating activities, recognizing the scarcity of traditional employment opportunities. This sentiment underscores a growing entrepreneurial spirit, a crucial element for economic development. As one young participant stated, "This training will help me because there are not many jobs in our country. I want to learn to create jobs instead of looking for them elsewhere."

The Provincial Youth Council, through its president Emmanuel Kabangu, emphasizes the goal of economic self-sufficiency. This aligns with a broader national aspiration to build a more resilient and independent economy. The training is a strategic investment in human capital, aiming to unlock the potential of young Congolese to drive local development and reduce reliance on external aid or limited formal sector jobs.

The objective of this training is to enable these young people to become autonomous and to encourage them to create their own jobs.

— Emmanuel KabanguExplaining the overarching goal of the entrepreneurship training initiative.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Radio Okapi in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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