Béatrice worked in a bank until war and violence forced her into unemployment: "I could no longer provide for my children." She decided to create an organization with other women in the same situation, and they come across Apef. " I took an embroidery course. I had already done a little when I was younger so it was a great opportunity to improve my technique. That was 5 years ago. I followed a six-month training course and a one-month internship. I was then lent a sewing machine, some thread and fabrics and I got started. " Since then, once a month, an instructor gives her advice on her work, either about stock management or customer relations. Now that she has a generator, she no longer suffers from power cuts. « I can now make ends meet. All of my children go or have been to school, I can pay my rent. I have gained in self-confidence, people like what I do […] Before, clothes were imported from Burundi or Rwanda and there was no embroidery here! "

Germaine Kavira is originally from Goma in North Kivu, but she now lives in the village of Senge in South Kivu, because her husband, who is a civil servant, was transferred. " Like all teachers, he is not well paid… when he is paid at all! " She joined the organization Grenier with 25 other women and is now its president. She tells her story: " In 2008, after several training courses, we received a credit for our wickerwork activity. This didn’t exist around here but coming from Goma and knowing the technique, I taught the other women. The baskets are very much appreciated and our business is profitable. There are now 20 of us working here. We each make 2 baskets a day… there is even a new girl who makes 3 a day, and of good quality too! We reimbursed our first credit very quickly. Our children now go to school and I have managed to build our own little house. "

Four years ago, when her husband died, Jeanne-Marie Kalissa left Katanga to come back and live with her parents in Luvungi, in South Kivu. At the time she bought and sold flour but could not make ends meet. She then came across the organization Grenier whose members gave her advice. " A few months later I received a small credit from Apef." This allowed her to grow cassava, process it and sell it. She even managed to save money and buy a piece of land in a quarry. " But one day, a big landowner arrived and took my land. I turned to Apef, they helped me to defend myself and I managed to get my land back." Drawing on her experience, she is now able to advise families who face the same difficulties. Today she sells rough-stone from her quarry and gives some people work cutting the rough-stone. Jeanne-Marie’s children all go to school and she is also able to support her parents.

Find about the current activity program set up with Apef :
DR Congo - Women against war and poverty