Progress Report of the Good Shepherd Programs in the mining communities of Kolwezi (DRC) - March 2014

1. Building Hope, Justice and Peace in the
Mining Communities of Kolwezi (DRC)
Good Shepherd Programs
Interim Report - March 2014

2. The Good Shepherd Programs started working in the
mining communities of Kolwezi in 2013 to:
1. Increase food security and family income through an Alternative
Livelihoods Programs
2. Decrease gender discrimination through an Economic
Empowerment Program for the most vulnerable girls and
women
3. Strengthen child protection policies and improve nutritional and
education services for children through a Child Protection and
Development Program
4. Strengthen cohesive citizenship for an equitable distribution of
resources and accountability of the mining companies through a
Civic Strengthening Program.
Here are some of the results so far…

3. Children

4. Since October 2013, 719 children are regularly attending the informal school
program. 95% of the children-miners registered in the program have attended a
wide range of child development activities.
Daily porridge provision at school contributed to the improved attendance rates.
More children
go to school

5. All children engaged in the program now
understand the dangers of going to the
mines and report that they prefer to remain
in ‘school’ rather than to “go there”.
As a result, less than 10% of the registered
students continue to work in the mines. Of
those, they enter the mines for work only
occasionally.
Fewer children are
working in the
mines

6. 70% of the parents show increased commitment in the educational development
of their children. For the first time ever, parents have started following up on
children’s progress and discourage them from going to work in the mines.
Parents give more
value to children’s
education

7. 30 of the children registered are orphans and their lone meal of the day is provided by the
program. Still, they prefer to keep out of the mines even if they are hungry. Thanks to the
improved nutrition levels, the teachers observed a significant improvement in the motivation
of the students and in their overall performance compared to last year.
All children can now eat at least
once a day and don’t have to work in
the mines to survive.

8. Children participate in the Children’s Parliament and in the Culture, Justice and Peace clubs.
They have become friendlier and less bullying is occurring.
10% shows great potential in creativity and arts.
20% still exhibit violent and physically abusive behavior with peers and need additional care
and support.
Fewer incidents
due to violent
behaviours

9. The community around the Child Protection Program has turned the Good
Shepherd Centre into a ‘crime reporting venue’. The Centre is becoming more
aware of the rate of violence in the community, especially against women and
children; it is working intensely in advocacy and education on human rights.
Victims of violence
now have a place
to ask for
protection

10. Girls and
Women

11. Additional research by the
local team found that over
80% of girls/women in the
mining area can neither
read nor write.
The majority have two
pregnancies in a 12-month
period.
70% are forced to remain in
their homes and can’t leave
the compounds.
90% of neighbours are
strangers and are suspicious
of each other.
Tribe/province divides and
witchcraft are a major
factor of tension and
suspicion in the community.

12. 103 Women of the mining community have been educated on the importance of
literacy and on healthy and safe ways of generating income as alternatives to
artisanal mining.
Thanks to the project
women now are
aware that a better
life is possible

13. 134 illiterate and vulnerable girls
and women continued their training
in
literacy, arithmetic, knitting, sewing
and other home-management and
business skills.
They also received education on
prevention of HIV / AIDS, sexually
transmitted diseases, family
planning, personal hygiene and legal
counselling on human rights and
violence prevention.
A radio spot on the women’s
improved condition in Kolwezi was
prepared by the staff and aired.
It has been so successful that it was
aired two more times due to the
public demand and request.
More girls
experience
empowerment

14. Following parent’s meetings, participation and interest in supporting the development of the girls has
improved by 5%. 15 parents contributed towards the repairs of machines and made consistent
provision for their daughters’ training materials. 30 parents/guardians attended meetings regularly.
And more girls feel
they are valued by
parents and community

15. Two girls with blood related complications whose parents had given up on because of their
inability to afford medical care, were successfully treated by the District Health administration
at no cost, due to the positive working relationships with the Good Shepherd programs.
Girls know that now
someone listens and
responds to their needs

16. Community

17. 30+ women and men whose income used to come solely from dangerous mining
activities, are now fully engaged in the newly established “Maisha (life) Farm Cooperative” in
20 acres of land donated by the Diocese.
From mining
to farming

18. The Government donated crops and the mining company Kamoto Copper provided a tractor
with driver and an agricultural officer to plough and plant the land. The members of the
cooperative have been trained in pig and goat rearing, poultry keeping, nursery-bed
preparation, and general crop care. 58 people took part in cleaning the land for planting.

19. 24 young men were trained in
fish farming and are now
participating in the digging and
preparing of two fish ponds.

20. 28 families secured vegetables for consumption
and sale following the first successful harvest

21. Members of the farm coop participated in a joint exhibition with World Vision to
market the produce. TV, Radio and local authorities appreciated the event and the
products. Local business owners and Government agencies signed an agreement to
develop a market for the Maisha Farm’s produce.
A market
for the
Farm

22. To all our friends at
Misean cara Ireland,
Harris Fraser VCF,
GS of Singapore/Malaysia,
GS of Taiwan,
Youth for Economic Justice
and many others,
who made this start-up
possible, a BIG
Thank
you!