New NGO “Congo Terre Solidaire” by Dodi Tshama

“Congo Terre Solidaire” is a social development organization based in the Democratic Republic of Congo, founded by Dodi Tshama. The idea was set up by Dodi in the midst of the pandemic and lockdowns to bring about positive changes in the lives of poor women, people living with handicap, young women, underprivileged children and their families. They empower children and women by providing quality education, healthcare, skill development programmes and livelihood programmes. At present, the NGO is directly benefitting more than a lot of underprivileged children and families in Kinshasa. They are undertaking different projects based on education, healthcare, youth employment, and women empowerment, food assistance, moral boost and physical assistance. People can support the NGO by providing online donations and can also join as volunteers to work with the organisation in bettering the lives of many through contacting Dodi Tshama.

Dodi is an educated, dedicated, experienced and engaged in social work, Founder and Executive Director at “Congo Terre Solidaire”. Dodi has a strong passion for alleviating the suffering of vulnerable girls and young women in the Democratic Republic of Congo and around the world, and she desires to play an integral part in enacting this. She has been at the forefront of empowering vulnerable girls and young mothers in D R Congo under her own initiatives and isolated occasions before launching her new NGO, representing vulnerable women, people living with handicap, children separated from their families, children infected and affected by HI/AIDS, children-mother and those affected by civil war. She believes that the empowerment of women and girls makes them catalysts of change.

Besides financial and material assistance, “Congo Terre Solidaire” has instituted an intervention focusing on Mentorship, Counseling, Motivational Speaking, Sponsorship and Referral as part of a strategy to raise girls’ educational standards in Kinshasa in particular and the Democratic Republic of Congo in general. In its counseling interventions, the NGO enlist professional counselors to support young girls in trauma to gain courage and return to school. The programme also uses peer education approaches to implement its school-based life skills and child protection programs. The founder Dodi makes sure that the NGO also works with Mentors who are successful women from different locations to motivate young girls in schools to pursue education as the ultimate alternative to ending poverty among women in Kinshasa and Congo. The referral program seeks to link distressed young women to relevant service providers, including counselors and mentors, to help them overcome existing life challenges and pursue more fulfilling life engagements, particularly those touching on education.

For the Sponsorship project, “Congo Terre Solidaire” will partner with the Ministry of Social Work and Family. The 2030 Agenda for the Sustainable Development adopted by all United Nations members provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for them and the planet, now and into the future. For that cause, Dodi is also a member registered of Amnesty International. Dodi Tshama believes that children are the future assets of the nation. Their growth and development depend on the education given to them in their childhood. Children are very easy to mould. Education acquired during childhood moulds them into better individuals who can contribute to the progress of society. However, not every child gets a fair chance to pursue education. Poverty stricken households restrict their children from attending schools and force them to do labour in order to earn income for their families in Africa. This shatters the dreams of these kids who want to pursue education and achieve heights. These families are often trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty from which it is hard to come out. The government initiated various schemes which motivated kids to go to school and learn with the help of United Nations (UNESCO and UNICEF). The whole scenario has changed and become more complex with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The learning process has shifted from offline space to online due to the pandemic induced lockdown. Many believed that online learning made it easier and more comfortable because all necessary information was made available at the tip of our fingers. Students could pursue education by being in the comfort zone of their homes. However, this is not an inclusive decision because not everybody gets an equal opportunity to pursue education online.