Date: November 20, 2018
From: Public Affairs Section
Email address: KinshasaPress@state.gov
Bukavu, November 20, 2018 – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched a new Integrated Youth Development Activity (IYDA) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). IYDA will support Congolese youth through learning and economic opportunities by helping young people gain professional skills to engage in income-generating activities.
The non-governmental organization Education Development Center (EDC), which implements the project, will work to strengthen the resilience of Congolese youth to conflict and violence by providing grants to improve their ability to learn, adapt and resist the shock and stress caused by natural disasters, conflicts and material deprivation.
Over the next three years, several activities will be conducted to increase the self-efficacy of 10,000 vulnerable youth; provide basic education to 12,000 young people; help more than 8,000 young people gain work experience, and build the capacity of about 680 teachers, facilitators and literacy volunteers in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.
According to USAID/DRC Director Paul Sabatine: “This project uses an integrated, multisectoral and transformative programmatic approach. It mobilizes, as a result, the collective intelligence and financial efforts from several sectors of USAID intervention, including basic education for the most part, economic growth, health and democracy as well as human rights and good governance.”
The project will collaborate with education and professional learning centers, government officials, the private sector and local organizations in the service of youth to improve and provide basic education, preparation, training, employment and entrepreneurial skills in the targeted provinces.
About USAID
USAID is the US Agency for International Development. In the DRC, USAID works hand in hand with the Congolese people in the implementation of a diversified portfolio of programs in the sectors of health, education, good governance, humanitarian aid, agriculture, human rights and the environment.
About EDC
Founded in 1958, EDC is an international non-profit organization that implements education, health and economic development programs around the world. Its work includes research, training, materials and instructional strategies, ranging from pilot projects to large-scale initiatives.
For more information, please contact Alain Mukeba at 0815554440 amukeba@usaid.gov