Impact Stories & Blogs

Patient Belanila Matango, Democratic Republic of Congo - Cohort 34

I was born in war, raised in war and today conflicts persists in my country. At the age of 20, I asked myself several questions about various existing inter-ethnic wars and conflicts that have long characterized instability, insecurity and underdevelopment in different sectors of life. The challenges in my country requires proper organization, functioning, well-structured political system having strong animators with a sense of leadership.  

My background motivated me study Social, Political and Administrative Sciences at the University of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This training would later on provide a basis for my creativity, and innovative spirit in search for peace and resolution of inter-ethnic conflicts in our community. Today, I consultant for various national and international organizations in the field of development, support for civil society organizations, armed  groups in the search for lasting peace, strengthening of the socio-economic capacities of young women and men who have not  completed their secondary studies for their empowerment in future life through vocational training.   

 At the political level, several awareness and training campaigns with politico-administrative authorities to fight corruption, embezzlement of public funds, and violence have been carried out. I thank the YALI regional Leadership Centre East Africa for strengthening my leadership capacities. I present undoubted values in my community courtesy of the training and networking experience during the fellowship in Nairobi. The reason for this trend is justified by the fact that I have carried out several awareness and popularization campaigns through local radio channels in collaboration with international organizations (Save the Children), in our local community, campaign on the protection of children rights, the protection of schools against the occupation of armed troops and the protection of the environment of Lake Tanganyika by strengthening the mangrove forest policy to protect endangered fish species, reforestation of river beds Mulongwe, Sangea and Kawizi to prevent rainwater erosion. 

In addition, I conducted several research and work around peace consolidation and peaceful conflict resolution. I contributed significantly in search for peace in our different communities, in particular: Banyamulenge on the one hand and those of Babembe, Vira, Fuliru, Bashi, Banyindu, Raga on the other hand. I continue to play the mediation role wit regards to nationality. I fight for mutual acceptance, regardless of colour, race, political affiliation and origin. Once you are in the Democratic Republic of the Congo you are obliged to live together in peace and harmony