This year, the non-profit organisation En Avant Les Enfants (EALE) is celebrating 30 years of commitment in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Since 1995, the association has been working with a clear mission: to support young people in Goma in building a dignified, independent and hopeful future.
At KISANY, this story is particularly close to our hearts. Twenty-three years ago, following the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano on 17 January 2002, a group of women embroiderers, deprived of everything, sought help from EALE. Moved by their situation, Nicole Esselen, then project coordinator on the ground, founded KISANY with two friends, Isabelle Degryse and Manuela del Marmol.
This is how the embroidery atelier in Goma was born, now a pillar of our brand and a symbol of resilience.
But EALE's impact goes far beyond this initiative. The association focuses on two key areas: education and socio-cultural development.
Here is an overview of his key projects:
Education
KIS : Un programme de bourses scolaires et universitaires pour les jeunes de Goma, avec un accompagnement personnalisé. L’objectif ? Soutenir les talents et leur permettre de devenir les moteurs du changement local.
Le développement socio-culturel
Promo Jeune Basket (PJB): An iconic sports project that uses basketball as a tool for education, social cohesion and personal development. Discipline, respect, team spirit and pushing oneself to the limit are the cornerstones of this school of life.
HAD (Humanité & Action pour le Développement) : Un programme d’accompagnement pour des familles en situation de grande précarité, notamment à travers la création de potagers communautaires et de solutions de logement décent.
Inuka: A place that welcomes and helps young people who have lost touch with society, offering a listening ear, training and real prospects for rebuilding their lives.
Foyer Culturel de Goma : Un lieu vivant dédié à la création, à l’expression artistique et au dialogue culturel pour la jeunesse de Goma. Un espace d’ouverture, de liberté et de rêve.
Agape: Our embroidery atelier offers women technical training and stable employment in a caring environment.
École des Femmes: Since 2020, training in agroecology and beekeeping has been offered to young mothers, many of whom are victims of violence. Over a six-month period, they learn how to grow crops, raise animals, produce honey and manage their own income-generating activities. This training is a lever for autonomy and dignity in a context of great instability.
Today, more than 6,500 beneficiaries benefit from projects supported by En Avant Les Enfants.
At KISANY, we are proud to have been part of this wonderful human adventure for over 20 years and to continue working hand in hand for a future woven with dignity, talent and hope.