Irene's story, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Irene is a 25-year-old single mother of two boys living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Despite experiencing extreme poverty, she has become a skilled seamstress and can now support her children’s education with her income.
Irene poses for a portrait at her home in Kongolo, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photo: Arlette Bashizi/Caritas Australia
Irene helps her son Dominique to do his homework at home. Photo: Arlette Bashizi/Caritas Australia
Irene’s childhood was marked by hardships
After her father died in a war, Irene along with her mother and siblings were displaced, and her mother became the sole breadwinner for the family. Despite the difficulties for her mother to afford school fees, Irene persevered to attend school for as long as she could.Â
However, when Irene was a teenager, she was sexually assaulted by one of her male classmates, and later realised she was pregnant. Irene was pressured to marry her assaulter due to cultural and societal norms.Â
The father of Irene's child fled soon after she had her first child. Irene’s lack of education and in turn, limited job opportunities, has further complicated her ability to support her family’s basic needs.Â
Without the skills to find paid employment, Irene had a very limited chance of escaping the cycle of poverty on her own.
Thanks to Caritas Australia’s partners, Caritas Kongolo, Irene was able to join the Youth Capacity Strengthening Program and access resources that would give her a second chance to forge a brighter future for herself and her family.
Irene took up a sewing course offered by Caritas Kongolo, who also provided sewing machines and fabrics for sewing. In addition to this, Caritas Kongolo ran agricultural training sessions and provided Irene with psychological support through trauma counselling for her sexual assault as a teenager.
At the end of the 6-month sewing course, Irene and her peers were provided with sewing machines so they could continue practicing their skills and earn an income.
Irene makes clothes for customers at night in her home in Kongolo, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photo: Arlette Bashizi/Caritas Australia
Our lives are so different now. Before, women depended on men's income, but now, with our sewing skills, we can take care of ourselves.
Irene poses for a portrait with her family at her home in Kongolo, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photo: Arlette Bashizi/Caritas Australia
Irene’s newfound skills not only provide financial stability to her family but have also enabled her to take on a mentoring role, training other young women to sew.Â
“With the earnings from this job, I can not only buy my own clothes but also for my family members… Regarding the children I send to school, there are my orphaned nephews from my late brother. I make sure to provide for all their needs," Irene said.
Thanks to the program and the compassion of supporters like you, Irene has been able to break out of a cycle of poverty and can now forge a brighter future for her children.
Your donation can help
Irene sews clothes with a group of women she mentors as part of the Caritas-supported youth empowerment program in Kongolo, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photo: Arlette Bashizi/Caritas
Support a young people set up their own business with sewing machines and equipment
Irene teaching sewing to a group of women she mentors as part of the Caritas-supported youth empowerment program in Kongolo, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photo: Arlette Bashizi/Caritas Australia
Contribute to the costs of vocational training so youth can learn skills to earn an income
Irene harvests in her field Kongolo, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photo: Arlette Bashizi/Caritas Australia
Provide a young person experiencing trauma access to counselling
