Our Initiatives
What CEMEACO is actually doing on the ground in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Action 1
Agribusiness for Young People
Action 1
Agribusiness for Young People
Against a national backdrop marked by urban unemployment in Kinshasa and the need to diversify the economy, CEMEACO has taken the initiative to guide Congolese youth toward productive sectors. Modern agriculture, presented as a profitable and well-structured business, is at the heart of this approach.
In 2024, CEMEACO organized three rounds of intensive agribusiness training for young people in Kinshasa:
Objective: to challenge the outdated image of agriculture and present it as a profitable entrepreneurial sector
Target audience: young people aged 18 to 35, with priority given to female applicants (gender parity sought)
Methodology: learning by doing — classroom-based theoretical lectures + demonstrations at pilot sites
Content: modern farming techniques, farm management, value chains from production to marketing
Post-training follow-up: remote mentoring via instant messaging + scheduled field visits
2024 RESULTS — KEY FIGURES
LEÇONS ET PERSPECTIVES
- La jeunesse kinoise manifeste un intérêt croissant pour le secteur agricole dès lors qu’elle bénéficie d’une formation de qualité
- L’accès au capital de démarrage reste un facteur critique — partenariats avec les institutions de micro-crédit à développer
- Prochaines sessions : intégration d’un module sur l’accès au foncier
Action 2
Active Education and Training
Action 2
Active Education and Training
Active education is at the heart of CEMEACO’s identity. Inspired by the methods of the Éducation Nouvelle movement, it places the learner at the center of their own learning process. CEMEACO trains educators, facilitators, community leaders, and members of Congolese civil society in these pedagogical approaches.
The fundamental principle: children (or adults) learn best by being active, experimenting, and cooperating with others, rather than passively receiving knowledge from above.
TRAINING AREAS
Active education methods applied to the Congolese context
Group facilitation and management of group dynamics
Citizenship and human rights education
Organization of educational activities for youth (day camps, workshops)
Associative governance and management of civil society organizations
ADAPTATION TO THE LOCAL CONTEXT
CEMEACO adapts international active education methods to the specific sociocultural context of the DRC. The goal is to “unlearn in order to relearn”: to move away from the role of “absolute teacher” and become a facilitator who unlocks the potential of each learner.
Humanist Concrete actions, real results.
Discover how CEMEACO is transforming lives in Kinshasa and beyond.
Action 3
Human Rights Monitoring
Action 3
Human Rights Monitoring
In response to the unprecedented security crisis in North and South Kivu provinces, CEMEACO decided to act as a community watchdog. Many schools have been closed or destroyed, and teachers and students have been displaced, severely compromising access to education.
MEASURES IMPLEMENTED
In January 2025, CEMEACO deployed a network of 55 data collection relays (ARCDs) in the cities of Goma and Bukavu, as well as in the territories of Nyiragongo, Masisi, Rutshuru, Lubero, Walikale, Walungu, Kalehe, and Kabare.
Data collection on serious violations: murders, abductions, rapes, torture, looting, destruction of infrastructure
Rigorous verification: only facts confirmed by multiple credible sources are included
Publication of a comprehensive report documenting violations of human rights and international humanitarian law
Advocacy brief submitted to parliamentary bodies, diplomatic missions, and civil society organizations (February 1, 2025)
Moral and political support from FICEMEA: official message from the President (March 2025)
OPERATION STATISTICS
Action 4
Participation in international bodies
CEMEACO represents the DRC and Central Africa in FICEMEA’s governing bodies. This international participation enables the organization to give the Congo a voice in global strategic decisions on education and to align itself with international standards.
BODIES IN WHICH CEMEACO PARTICIPATES
International Biennial of New Education (Brussels 2022, Nantes 2024)
FICEMEA General Assembly (Namur 2022, Nantes 2024)
FICEMEA Board of Directors (Brussels, July 2024 and March 2025)
BENEFITS FOR CEMEACO
Strengthening of pedagogical skills through the exchange of global best practices
International legitimacy for advocacy efforts in the DRC
Access to the resources and partnerships of the FICEMEA network (UNESCO, Erasmus+, etc.)
Positioning as a leader in active education in Central Africa