FRIENDS OF DRC Inc

?? The violence is real, even when it's virtual. As our lives become more connected, online harassment and abuse pose rising threats to women and girls' safety - both in digital spaces and in real life. It's time to make EVERY space - online and offline - safe for all. Read more about trolling, stalking, doxing and other forms of violence against women in the digital age: https://lnkd.in/gvqhnbPV #16Days #NoExcuse

Day 2 of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) November 26, 2024, we conducted the second workshop as part of our initiative #PonyaNaUjengeUpya: (Heal and Rebuild) co-organized by Club Zaida Catalan pour la Paix et la Securité and us Mwanamke Kesho RDC. With 20 engaged women participating, we began the day with a recap of day 1 themes, sharing valuable experiences to educate participants on effective economic management and small business strategies. In a significant step toward empowerment, we distributed microfinance envelopes to support mothers and young women in their entrepreneurial journeys and promote self-sufficiency. They also access to practical training on how to prepare beignets, which participants successfully executed. Our commitment to empowering women and fostering a culture of respect continues to grow stronger each day. African Women's Development Fund (AWDF) Ipas Afrique Francophone USAID/Democratic Republic of the Congo VLF - RDCongo The Carter Center Global Fund for Women FONDS POUR LES FEMMES CONGOLAISES

Day 1 of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Today, November 25, 2024, we successfully held the first workshop as part of our initiative #PonyaNaUjengeUpya. This initiative is co organized by Club Zaida Catalan pour la Paix et la Securité and us Mwanamke Kesho RDC. With 20 deplaced women and girls from Buhimba refugees camp in Goma, Noth Kivu ????, our first session focused on GBV and emotional stress management. One facilitator highlighted various forms of GBV (sexual violence:lack of consent, physical violence: domestic abuse, emotional abuse: verbal insults ) She encouraged participants to speak out against violence, The second facilitator led participants in songs and dances, fostering a supportive environment. She addressed the root causes of GBV (lack of activities for young girls, insufficient infrastructureand so on ) She also guided participants through mental wellness exercises. We are committed to empowering women and girls and fostering a culture of respect and resilience. #16DaysOfActivism #GBV #WomenRights The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation L'Union Européenne (UE) U.S Embassy, Kinshasa Embassy of Sweden in Kinshasa British Embassy Kinshasa USAID/Democratic Republic of the Congo YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa Global Fund for Women Liberation Alliance Africa FONDS POUR LES FEMMES CONGOLAISES XOESE : The Francophone Women's Fund Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism United Nations UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency UN Women France Purposeful Louvain Coopération

Every 10 minutes, a woman is killed. There is #NoExcuse for violence – not at home, not at the workplace, not in public, not online. Nowhere. Let's UNiTE to end violence against women. #16Days

Celebrating Leadership and Impact ????????? It has been 5 years since we started working on the ground, addressing the challenges faced by young women. We are incredibly proud of the impact and change we are making in their lives. We want to take a moment to acknowledge Grace Maroy, our founder and coordinator. Thank you for leading us and showing us the way! ?? We believe young people deserve a place to contribute to a fair society where everyone, regardless of age, race, or gender, have a chance to help create a better and fairer world. A heartfelt thanks to those who believed in us from the beginning, challenging us and placing their trust in our vision despite doubts about our experience or commitment. Your trust is empowering us to show that young women can lead and inspire change. We just need the opportunity to showcase our contributions to a just society. #EmpowerWomen #EqualOpportunities #YouthLeadershio The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation FRIENDS OF DRC Inc YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Open Dialogues International Foundation Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens USAID/Democratic Republic of the Congo U.S Embassy, Kinshasa British Embassy Kinshasa

Our goal is to provide support to local organizations with limited resources and access to opportunities, helping them thrive. At Friends of DRC Inc., we were inspired by the impactful work of Mwanamke Kesho RDC and learn about the challenges they have faced on their journey, what motivated us to establish our organization, but our mission extends beyond supporting just one entity. We are committed to empowering as many organizations as possible that share our vision for sustainable growth and community development.

We have successfully concluded our series of meetings with local organizations focused on women's rights in eastern DRC. A heartfelt thank you to all the organizations that took the time to meet with us. Your insights and commitment to these crucial issues inspire us! At Friends of DRC, we look forward to exploring ways we can collaborate in promoting gender equality and empowering communities. #FriendsOfDRC #Collaboration #WomensRights #CommunityEmpowerment #EasternDRC

We received Kaheto Pierre murhula and his colleagues working for Peace, justice and human rights in the DRC, HAK/ RDC. While our meeting does not guarantee immediate support, it is an essential step towards inclusivity and strengthening our efforts in the region. We aim to connect with organizations that face challenges in accessing resources and opportunities, ensuring that we can collectively create a positive impact.

We received Chito Chibambo Ferdinand representative of “Observation de la gouvernance et des droits humains” #OGDH and his colleague, for discussion to learn more about their organization and the work they are doing, Join us as we work together to create opportunities and foster sustainable growth across the DRC. #FriendsOfDRC #Empowerment #HumanRights #Collaboration #WomenLeadership #youthempowerment

Aujourd'hui, nous ( @friendsofcongo) avons re?u Elvis Balola , le coordinateur de Rejadh RDC RJAD, et son collègue dans le cadre de notre engagement continu à promouvoir la collaboration avec les organisations locales de l'Est de la RDC ???? Nous croyons qu'en travaillant ensemble, nous pouvons amplifier notre impact et fournir des ressources essentielles à ceux qui en ont besoin. Grace Maroy #Collaboration #womenrights #Empowerment #EasternDRC #GenderEquality #friendsofdrc