12/04/2024

DRCongo: Louvain Cooperation supports children in street situations

More than 120 million. That's the estimated number of children currently living on the streets around the world.
April 12 marks the International Day dedicated to them. An opportunity to highlight the strength and resilience of these children, but above all their intolerable living conditions. Hunger, disease, violence and prostitution are their daily lot.

In the Congolese capital, thousands of children live on the streets. They have been abandoned, or are fleeing abusive homes and poverty. They have to survive in a climate of daily violence and insecurity. Censuses date back more than ten years, but even then it was estimated that this phenomenon affected 20,000 to 25,000 children, and all the associations working with these young people agree that it is only increasing.

Concrete actions

Louvain Coopération works in collaboration with reception centres in Kinshasa to meet the basic needs of children by offering shelter, food and healthcare to those who need it.

school

After being welcomed and cared for, they receive refresher courses in schooling and literacy. The teenagers are given access to appropriate training and are then supported in creating a viable and dignified professional activity. Where possible, we work towards family reunification.

A psychosocial approach

Louvain Coopération is one of the pioneering NGOs in the field of mental health care.

mental health

As part of this project, Louvain Coopération is training centre staff to provide psychosocial support to street children and young people. When they walk through the door of a centre, work begins with psychologists and educators to try to alleviate the suffering linked to all the traumas they have already endured and to gradually reintegrate them into society.