November 3rd, 2021, Idwji
The United States government, through USAID, partnered with the government of the DRC to launch the next phase of the Integrated Youth Development Activity (IYDA), committing an additional $5 million over the next year to expand its scope and broaden its reach throughout South Kivu as the latest element of our Privileged Partnership for Peace, Prosperity, and Preservation of the Environment.
The one-year extension incorporates groundbreaking changes, including an emphasis on inclusion of underserved and underrepresented youth (indigenous populations, youth with disabilities, young girls and women) as well as the addition of Idwji Island and communities surrounding Kahuzi Biega National Park. As USAID Mission Director Paul Sabatine said in his remarks at the ceremony to launch the extension, “Idjwi is a special place, as it has remained a place of peace amid turbulent surroundings.” USAID’s investment in Idjwi is an opportunity for the island to develop its tourism industry. The IYDA expansion will provide young people second-chance education and work readiness programs that are tailored to the needs of their community, improving the economic opportunities of not just the participants, but the entire island.
