In 1996 the Democratic Republic of the Congo falls into a chaotic regional conflict which is only just beginning. Two women, Zita Kavungirwa and Salufa Nunu, who have acquired much experience with the association Peasant Solidarity, Frères des Hommes partner, decide to put their expertise to the use of women in the village of Bukavu. They found the Association for the promotion of women’s entrepreneurship (APEF), which unites economic activity with the women’s suffrage. Today APEF supports 84 women’s associations and 144 production unities, that is to say nearly 1800 women and with them their families and the whole of their society.
Since it’s early years, APEF has been able to put in place a unified system of micro-credits, and to support the diversification of activities amongst women’s entrepreneurs.
Developping a center has allowed APEF to offer training in credit management, accounting, growing production and marketting circuits, associative overseeing, womens’ rights... as well as knitting, dying, embroidery, soapmaking courses... and production units have been installed thanks to the acquisition of equipment and materials.
Other activities have also been put in place to give women more presence in local life (radio broadcasts, conferences and workshops on womens’ rights and citizenship, etc.)
As well APEF is a member of the Regional Collective of NGOs for the development of South Kivu and participates in legal actions on the provincial level to encourage a greater involvement in the decisionary process by women.
Birth of a Partnership
Frères des Hommes is actively present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for many years now. Indeed actions began in the 1970s under the mobutist dictatorship, whilst the country was still known as Zaire.
In 1996 Frères des Hommes assists the Association for the promotion of women’s entrepreneurship (APEF) by pushing a study of women of the informal sector which leads to the birth of the association. Since, Frères des Hommes has supported several projects that have served hundreds of women with low incomes.
Activities led together
Discover our latest project with APEF: The Democratic Republic of Congo - Rebuilding lasting peace with women
Discover an activity realised with the women of APEF: 2004 - Democratic Republic of the Congo, help in the construction and development of economic activity by women in the Bukavu region
