Some cool starting own business images:
Hope for young people in war-torn Congo
Image by CAFOD Photo Library
Dieume lives in Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo. After dropping out of school, he used to support his family by begging for odd-jobs on the street.
When the rebel group M23 occupied Goma in November, Dieume and his family fled to a camp on the edge of the city. “It was the scariest time in my life,” he says. When the family returned, their house had been looted.
Today, Dieume is learning carpentry with CAFOD partner CAJED, who give vocational training to vulnerable young people – including former child soldiers and others whose lives have been torn apart by war.
In his carpenter’s apron and Oakland Athletics baseball t-shirt, he says: “I have been learning carpentry for six months,” he says. “My goal is to start my own workshop and train other people in these skills. I am very grateful to CAJED. Without them, I would have no future.”
Dieume’s story is far from unusual. Congolese Bishop Nicolas Djomo recently said: “A lot of children have not gone to school. We are losing a whole generation.” Although the situation in the east of the country remains extremely volatile, CAFOD’s partners are giving hope to hundreds of young people like Dieume.
Photo: Meighan Bell/ CAFOD, February 2013
For more information about the Democratic Republic of Congo contact the CAFOD Media Team or call 020 7095 5459 and 07785 950 585.
Email the Picture Desk lnorton@cafod.org.uk
