Concern Worldwide calls for protection of civilians in DRC
Concern Worldwide calls on all sides of the conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to ensure civilians are protected and humanitarian actors can continue their work.
Empower women rebuilding lives in DRC
Stand with women in DRC as they face escalating violence
Across eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, women and girls are disproportionately affected by ongoing crises. As violence intensifies, many families experience multiple displacements, with women often shouldering the responsibility of rebuilding lives and protecting their children in increasingly desperate conditions.
In these challenging circumstances, accessing food, clean water, healthcare, and maintaining livelihoods has become a daily struggle for thousands of women. But through Concern's integrated protection, livelihoods, and emergency response programs, we're working alongside women to create pathways to safety and economic independence.
Alice's Journey: From displacement to empowerment
Alice works on a garment in her tailoring shop in Mangothe, DRC. After fleeing conflict, she built a successful business and now trains other women in dressmaking skills. Through a Concern-supported VSLA group, she has expanded her enterprise and owns five sewing machines. Photo: Eugene Ikua/Concern Worldwide
Alice, a mother of five, fled her home due to armed conflict. "I come from Kirumba and I had to leave due to attacks," she explains. Along with her three children, she found temporary shelter in Beni.
"Life was very hard in the displacement settlement. Finding food was a big problem. We had to search for people for whom we could do laundry to get some money."
Despite these challenges, Alice was determined to rebuild by using her sewing skills. The turning point came when she joined a Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) supported by Concern.
I was selected by Concern to participate in the Village Savings and Loans Association. Three months later, I was able to get a loan which I used to accomplish my objective of selling fabrics.
Today, Alice owns five sewing machines and has trained six people in tailoring. She makes five dresses daily and sells fabric, while also training other women to start their own businesses.
Now I hope and expect that in a year I will be rich. I'll be a boss lady. And if I continue with the savings and loan group and with the training, I'm receiving in livestock management, I think my situation will not be the same a year down the road.
Alice shares her dressmaking skills with two apprentices in her tailoring workshop in Mangothe, DRC. Since establishing her business after displacement, she has trained six women, helping them develop skills to start their own enterprises. Photo: Eugene Ikua/Concern Worldwide
Concern's commitment to community-led solutions
For 30 years, Concern has maintained a presence in DRC, supporting locally driven initiatives across multiple sectors:
- 1
Water & Sanitation
Community-managed water treatment plants provide clean water to over 230,000 people daily
- 2
Livelihoods
Village Savings and Loans Associations enable women like Alice to build businesses that strengthen local economies
- 3
Health & Nutrition
Partnering with local health centers and training community health workers to deliver essential services
- 4
Emergency Response
Collaborating with local leaders to ensure displaced families receive vital resources including emergency shelter, food, clean water, and hygiene supplies
Make a Lasting Difference
When you become a regular giver, your support helps us reach more communities in crisis - from healthcare programs in DRC to urgent response needs across all the countries where we work.
A regular gift provides stable funding we can rely on, so if you are already a Regular Giver, we can’t thank you enough for your support in unsettling times like these. If you would like to sign up to a regular gift, you can do so here:
