A few months ago, Giresse Mubangu Disasi, 32, was appointed Provincial Minister of Budget, Civil Service, Regional Integration, Planning and Youth in the Congolese province of Kwilu. This appointment is the result of a long advocacy effort supported by Louvain Coopération, aimed at better representing and integrating young people into decision-making bodies.

At 32, Giresse Mubanga Disasi is the youngest minister in Kwilu Province, located in the south-west of the DRC. He achieved this dream through ambition, hard work and vision, but also thanks to the support of the Provincial Youth Council (CPJ), a civil society organisation supported by Louvain Coopération through the ‘Facilitating Local Initiatives’ project. "They supported me a lot. I learned a great deal and it has enabled me to be who I am today," explains the young minister.

The CPJ's mission is to represent and defend the rights of young people, to advocate for their issues to reach decision-makers and to influence public policy to work in their favour. "To achieve this, we offer young people training in governance, advocacy techniques, conflict resolution, etc. We have set up a youth participation committee and are campaigning for their involvement in public life," explains Herman Mabosi, head of the CPJ. The province of Kwilu is also facing inter-ethnic conflicts that put young people, especially young girls, at risk.

Young people not being heard

The CPJ's mission is particularly necessary given the lack of integration in various spheres of society. ‘Around 70% of the DRC's population is made up of young people. Young people who are finishing their studies and facing enormous challenges in terms of employment and integration into decision-making circles,’ laments Giresse Mubanga. He has managed to climb the ladder and intends to make young people and their future his main focus. "I want us to work on mentoring young people and promoting youth within public institutions. But above all, we need to reunite the various structures that support young people in order to achieve greater cohesion and make our voices heard. I would also like, as a first step, to launch a consultation process with young people to better identify the various issues they face and be able to work on them."

The CPJ's work is far from complete, but the presence of Giresse Mubanga and other young people who champion their cause within decision-making bodies gives rise to hope for real change.

Discover our other initiatives in the DRC