My Journey

I am from the Democratic Republic of Congo and I’m living in Kinshasa. Born in an African large family, my father always tells us that education is the best inheritance that he could leave to us. In my community, to be considered and to get full respect, women must be married to a man and have kids, even if she’s got high diploma or a high paid job. As a single, I’m facing men and married women’ judgement because I am living an unconventional life regarding our society code - I am an environmental activist. I would like to raise attention on the lack of women land tenure in rural provinces. Tradition in my country doesn’t allow women to own land even if she’s the one who works it for feeding family and trade products from agriculture to pay children school fees and woman is one the most vulnerable people toward climate change negative impacts. My NGO (Women Leader Coalition for Environment and Sustainable Development) initiate a project for 2016 and the objective is to produce an advocacy document for embedding woman land tenure in rural provinces in the law on land rights after the ongoing reform of the current law. I would like to take more awareness actions in the most remote areas like encouraging women to know their rights and the benefits to own their own land and using them on the most sustainable way. Besides, I would like women have access to Internet in order to touch more people on women land rights. For that, I am working with rural women especially in the forest areas and we are working with Rights and Resources Institute (RRI). To succeed, we really need material support like more efficient equipment (computer and Internet connection) and to improve our English level.