Florence, a Girl Actively Involved in Business and Responsible for Her Family

A certain Florence twenty four years old lives with her mother and three siblings, in the suburb of Gisenyi city Western province. She was not able to study due to lack of school fees. At her early age still a teenager she started selling fruits in neighboring city of Goma DR CONGO as a chap woman. Her mother stayed at home exploiting the little plot of land which was not profitable to them. The whole family could hardy live on the little money Florence had got from Goma. Sometimes groups of thieves could take steal and take away her fruits or the money she had gained.

Florence was told by her age friends’ neighbors that they saw a place where to get trained in sewing. That was ADEPE. Her mother accompanied her to ADEPE to beseech to be among those being trained. The coordinator of ADEPE, after hearing attentively her case decided to integrate her in the program. She started getting trained, skillfully and finished the session. ADEPE used to provide her with daily advise on how to behave in the family, and with other young men as she was still a teenager. She respected the advises.

After being trained in sewing by ADEPE, she has been able to be integrated in business community. She is able to pay school fees for her younger sister in secondary school, renewed the family house and now feels her role and her dignity.

She decides to help other girls of her age by teaching them freely how to sew. In general most of girl is contributing to the sustainability of their families. The neighbors envy her. They wish to live like her. She is proud of having restored the dignity to her family. She likes very much her family. She worries about getting married as her husband may in a way or another hinder her from supporting her family.