By Freddy Bisesta, co-founder, Women Concern (GLFx Kivu)
My name is Freddy Bisesta, and I am a man working to help women empower themselves.
Let me explain.
Growing up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), I noticed how my girl classmates often didn’t finish their primary education. In secondary school, I knew a few girls who were great at math and writing, but almost all of them ended up dropping out.
By age 15 to 16, most girls I knew were already married. At the time, my ignorance led me to believe girls simply weren’t capable of finishing school.
In reality, families in the DRC often marry off their girls at a young age for a dowry – money given by the boy’s family. Taking a dowry might afford a family enough to eat, or the means to educate their boys.
Congolese cultural norms treat women as a commodity. This means they are denied an education, married off as children, abused and sexually exploited.
Our land tenure laws also discriminate against women owning land, making them fully dependent on their male family members.
I went to university in the neighboring country of Burundi and again saw women in class. There, I began learning about gender-based violence and systems of repression through a master’s in gender studies.
Eventually, I founded Women Concern (WOCO) – an organization aimed at helping rural girls and women achieve their full potential.
I live on the Ruzizi Plain, a valley that straddles the tri-border between the DRC, Rwanda and Burundi.
This region is rich in water resources and biodiversity, but unsustainable agricultural practices and deforestation for fuelwood are threatening the health of our soils.
The region’s vulnerability is compounded by over two decades of armed conflict, which has not only destroyed infrastructure and intensified violence against women but also accelerated deforestation.
“In the camp, we’re dying of hunger, and we’ve decided to make charcoal so we can feed our children,” says Jacques Muzayi, a displaced vendor from the town of Kibati.
This combination of armed conflict and patriarchy has kept women in precarious positions, often excluding them from economic decision making.
Gender-based violence is often coupled with wage disparities, including in the agricultural sector, where many Congolese women work without receiving fair compensation for their work.
About 70 percent of female workers in the DRC work in agriculture, but less than 10 percent of them own land.
I founded WOCO in 2017 to enable rural women and girls to realize their full potential by providing community services and training in leadership and horticulture management.
We set up nurseries in local communities and established horticulture cooperatives run by local women. The women learn to manage at least one nursery of trees that will be used for agroforestry, playing a vital role in combating soil degradation and increasing biodiversity.
To help women thrive economically, WOCO has established two local markets and eight village savings and loan associations (VSLA).
Research shows that investing in women’s economic opportunities can increase agricultural yields by 20 to 30 percent. By integrating women into agricultural value chains, we aim to strengthen women’s economic power, which in turn boosts our region’s food security.
One of the things I value most about my work is hearing from women about how their lives have changed – and what better way to showcase that than by interviewing one of these women?
Here are some snippets from a conversation with Nsimire Suzane, a 30-year-old woman farmer living in the community of Kamanyola.
I was engaged in subsistence farming, mainly growing staple crops like cassava and maize. The work was labor-intensive and required a lot of time and effort in the fields.
These crops took months to grow, and even after harvesting, the returns were often not enough to meet my family’s needs or invest in other opportunities.
We faced numerous challenges: unpredictable weather, poor soil fertility and limited access to farming inputs all made it difficult to achieve good yields.
There was also little market demand for these crops, so even after all the hard work, it was not guaranteed that we would sell them. This created a cycle of financial instability and dependency, which affected my confidence and overall outlook on life.
Compared to past years, which were marked by complete financial dependency and lack of self-worth, my life has changed significantly and taken on a new direction after I was selected as a member of WOCO’s horticulture project.
The training and mentorship I’ve received have changed everything for me. Practicing horticulture feels like cultivating money – it generates income in a very short period of time and allows me to save time for other activities.
It was not easy to get started with horticulture. I had no prior experience with this type of farming, and as a rural woman with little education, I felt intimidated and unsure if I could learn the new techniques. The tools and methods were different from the traditional farming I was used to, and it was hard to break old habits.
But the learning process was made easier through the training and support provided by the project. The trainers were patient and used practical demonstrations, showing us step by step how to prepare the land and plant and care for crops like eggplants and cabbages. They also worked with us in the fields, guiding us until we felt confident.
One of the biggest challenges was understanding the importance of things like proper spacing, pest control and irrigation, as these were completely new concepts to me. But with time and repetition, I started to see the results of these techniques, which motivated me to keep learning.
Now, I feel proud of what I’ve achieved. The skills I’ve gained have not only improved my farming but also boosted my confidence. I realize that education doesn’t just happen at school – it can come from opportunities like this, where we learn by doing.
This work has transformed my life and my family’s future. With the income I earn, I can contribute to household expenses, which has eased the financial burden on my husband and strengthened our partnership. Through the VSLA group, I can save and access loans, which have helped me purchase pigs to diversify our income sources.
For my children, this income ensures that they can stay in school and have their basic needs met. At home, I’ve been able to improve our living conditions, making life more comfortable for the entire family. This work has given me pride, independence and hope for a better future.
When I was a child, the Ruzizi Plain was lush and vibrant, with dense vegetation, plenty of wildlife and rivers that flowed strongly. It was a fertile and bountiful land, providing enough resources for everyone.
However, armed conflict has had a devastating impact over the years. The violence and instability led to the destruction of our forests, the displacement of communities and the disruption of agricultural activities.
People were forced to clear more land for survival, often without considering the long-term consequences. The constant fighting and insecurity have also made it difficult for communities to restore the land, leading to further degradation.
Despite these challenges, the plain remains a vital source of livelihood for us, and projects like horticulture are helping us adapt to these environmental difficulties. By promoting sustainable practices, we are working to restore the land and secure a better future for our families.
For myself, I dream of continuing to grow in confidence and financial independence. I want to expand my horticulture work and other income-generating activities like raising pigs so that I can provide even more for my family and support my community.
For my land, I dream of restoring its fertility and making it as productive as it once was. I hope to see the Ruzizi Plain green and thriving again, with sustainable farming practices that protect the soil and environment for future generations.
For my children, my biggest dream is to give them a better life than I had. I want them to stay in school, pursue their dreams and grow up with opportunities that will help them break free from poverty. I want them to see that hard work and education can open doors to a brighter future.
For my country, I dream of peace and stability, where people can live without fear and build their lives without the shadow of conflict. I hope for a nation where women like me can access opportunities, support their families and contribute to the development of our communities.
These dreams may seem big, but with the steps we’re taking today, I believe they are possible.
Finally…
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