Location and general information
Employability - 
Gender Equality - 
Personal developmentContext
Girls and young women living in rural areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo face a number of obstacles when trying to enter the world of work. Even those lucky enough to have finished school or completed some level of education struggle to find a job. They are restricted in their choice of career and access to resources, a situation exacerbated by cultural norms and gender stereotypes.
Many are forced into low-paying and often exploitative jobs that offer little job security,minimal benefits and limited prospects for upward mobility, trapping women in a cycle of poverty and vulnerability and putting them at risk of dependency or abuse.
Entrepreneurship is a potential pathway to economic empowerment, but a lack of funding, support, training and role models makes it difficult for girls to get started, overcome barriers and make careers for themselves.
Project goals
- Educate and empower: All girls and women who participate in the project are taught about entrepreneurship and financial literacy and equipping with the necessary skills and opportunities to explore diverse career paths and launch their own small businesses.
- Enhance business skills: 80% of girls and women interested in beginning their own business ventures say they are equipped with the confidence and knowledge to do so.
- Create strong networks: The organisation has built diverse, long-term, stable and productive relationships with five companies that will offer internships for female programme participants.
- Launch a seed fund: Programme participants are given the skills needed to launch small businesses in their community.
- Ensure equitable access: The Malaika community centre has given more than 1,500 young women and girls access to vocational and professional training, equipping them with the necessary skills to find decent and dignified employment.
Project content
Malaika is an African-led grassroots non-profit, created in 2007, that empowers communities through education, skills and health programmes. It has impacted the lives of thousands of children and their families in rural Kalebuka and surrounding communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The organisation is also committed to investing in girls’ education and lifting communities out of poverty through livelihood, water, sanitation and hygiene and agricultural initiatives.
The Young Women’s Economic Empowerment project educates girls aged 13 and older on entrepreneurship and leadership in the Malaika school and community centre. Launched in 2024, this project takes a holistic approach to empowering young women by combining education, real-world experience and financial support to unlock their potential as entrepreneurs and changemakers in their communities.
Participants engage in a comprehensive educational programme that includes workshops, simulations, mentorship opportunities and career development courses. Through partnerships with local businesses, participants gain access to internships and job-shadowing opportunities, fostering real-world experience and professional connections.
A highlight of the initiative is the annual pitch competition, where participants present business ideas to a jury of educators and entrepreneurs. Winners receive seed funding to bring their ideas to life and are supported through ongoing mentorship to establish and grow their ventures. This activity is a critical stepping stone for young women, particularly those who may not pursue higher education, empowering them to build sustainable businesses that address community needs.
A sustainability plan is being developed to ensure that entrepreneurship education continues beyond the project’s duration, with an eye toward rolling out the programme in more communities.
Partners
