Bienfait Mugenza

Story

A pivotal moment for Bienfait Mugenza was recognizing the stark divide between rural communities – like his hometown on Idjwi Island in eastern Congo – and urban centres. It became clear that this lack of integration was indicative of a larger problem – a system of unfair segregation and limited opportunities for rural inhabitants. Motivated by his own experiences and the plight of his community, he embarked on a journey to address these inequalities. Bienfait first focused on empowering youth, but soon realised the dire situation faced by women in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He witnessed the neglect and injustice they endured on a daily basis and became acutely aware of the urgent need to advocate for gender equality and uplift the status of women in his society. He said he recognised their marginalisation as a stain on the collective conscience.

Bienfait is the managing director of Congo Dynamic Initiatives (CDI) and Congo Peace Academy (CPA). He is deeply engaged in several projects centred around empowering rural women and young people. These initiatives positively impact more than 500 women by equipping them with entrepreneurship training and start-up capital so they can  launch their own ventures. The funding originates primarily from Bienfait’s personal resources and the partnerships he has cultivated. He said, despite the inherent challenges of self-funding, he remains steadfast in his dedication to making a meaningful difference in the lives and capacities of others. For example, in order to generate sustainable funding for their initiatives, Bienfait and his team created a studio for music, audio, and video production which now serves as a revenue stream, bolstering innovative projects in the long term. 

This pioneering approach is in line with their overarching objective of creating enduring solutions in order to address the needs of the communities they serve. Rebel groups in the DRC are also a determining contributor to the challenges faced by Bienfait and his organisations. He said, ‘Those people have stopped the progress of almost everything because even the country itself cannot move forward, and so those people have harmed all kinds of progress in the country.’ He said that rebel groups actively target individuals engaged in humanitarian efforts in conflict zones, employing extreme measures to disrupt their activities. These groups do not discriminate, posing a threat not only to aid workers but also to their families. 

When asked about the possibility of negotiating with rebels in order to facilitate project implementation, Bienfait opposed the idea. He described the ongoing loss of life and profound suffering inflicted by these groups – ‘People are being killed at the moment, right now, as we are talking. We have cried so much that I can no longer cry.’ He stressed the urgency of the situation, expressing his deep sorrow and unwavering determination to address the atrocities being perpetrated. In recognition of the widespread trauma caused by the conflict, Bienfait said there is an urgent need for psychological support among affected individuals. So he implemented a trauma psychotherapy program within the CPA in order to offer counselling and assistance to those struggling with the emotional repercussions of the crisis. 

Bienfait said, prioritising mental health and self-care is essential for anyone seeking to initiate social change. His tips are to focus on realistic goals and appreciate the progress made, also to advocate for small, manageable actions.