Economic empowerment restores hope to survivors of SGBV
As part of its case management activities, help a Child supports survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) on their journey toward sustainable recovery. Fifty survivors who received psychosocial support through safe spaces in the health areas of Masosi, Mambabeka, and Liva were provided with conditional cash assistance of USD 150 each to help them establish or expand income-generating activities.
This assistance aims to strengthen their economic independence, improve their resilience, and facilitate their social reintegration. By enabling them to start or grow small businesses, the project helps reduce their vulnerability and offers them more stable opportunities for the future.
In Masosi, Havuo, a young student, chose to invest her support in purchasing a sewing machine. Through this activity, she is now able to meet several of her essential needs.
“The sewing machine I bought helps me a lot. I can earn some money to purchase school supplies, soap, and cover other small expenses. Before Help a Child came, it was difficult for us to be self-reliant. Today, we have fewer worries and more hope for the future.”
Similarly, Masika started a small business that allows her to better care for her family. “I thank Help a Child. Thanks to the cash assistance and the training on how to manage it, I can buy food for my children and generate income through my business. May God bless Help a Child so that other women in need can also benefit from this support.”
For Kavu, a displaced mother, this support marked a true new beginning. After fleeing violence perpetrated by the ADF and losing her means of livelihood, she faced numerous challenges affecting both her family’s living conditions and her emotional well-being.
“When we fled our village, we lost everything. I no longer knew how to feed my children or meet their basic needs. I was constantly worried. Thanks to the psychosocial support and financial assistance I received, I started selling soybeans, eggs, flour, spices, and palm oil. Today, I can take care of my children and have regained a sense of emotional stability.”
Thanks to funding from the Humanitarian Funds DRC, Help a Child demonstrates that combining psychosocial support with economic empowerment is a critical step toward the recovery of GBV survivors. By enabling women to provide for themselves and their families, the project not only helps restore their dignity but also strengthens their self-confidence and reinforces their role within the community
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