RCA 10 – A WORKSHOP FOR THE GIRLS OF BIMBO

Project Location

The municipality of Bimbo, on the outskirts of Bangui, is experiencing rapid population growth and faces serious socioeconomic challenges. Adolescent mothers and single-parent women are among the most vulnerable groups. Early pregnancies often lead to school dropouts, drastically limiting access to employment and increasing the risk of chronic poverty.

Many young women find themselves raising their children alone, without family support or stable resources. Added to this are social stigma, isolation, community exclusion, and psychological fragility. Despite this, they represent a significant resource for local development when supported by vocational training, psychosocial support, and economic inclusion.

Project description

Since 2023, the Saint Daniel Comboni Women's Development Center has been offering unemployed young women and teenage mothers in Bimbo the opportunity to learn the sewing trade. However, due to the high cost of living, many girls are unable to purchase a sewing machine and the equipment needed to start their own business upon completion of their training. To meet this need, the project involves the construction of a sewing workshop and a sales outlet that will allow the young women to gain gainful employment, save money to purchase their own equipment, and eventually start their own business.

The project involves the following operational phases:

Construction of the workshop building. The workshop will be located in a space in front of the Center, with a door that opens outward from the fence, allowing customers to access the workshop directly without entering the Center. The space will also serve as a display area for the products made by the beneficiaries.
The activity will begin immediately, using the materials already available at the Center (sewing machines and equipment).
The work of the 10 beneficiaries will be organized with shifts and task division.
The workshop will be open to the public for tailoring services and the sale of ready-made products.
The workshop will be activated as a free and safe training place for other women at the Center, preventing situations of exploitation or abuse that sometimes occur in external workshops.

The workshop will be open to the public and will generate revenue through sewing and repair services, the creation of made-to-measure clothing, and the sale of tailoring products. A portion of the profits will be allocated to the beneficiaries' personal savings, and a portion will be used to maintain the workshop and support the center's self-financing. It is expected that, after at least a year of work, the beneficiaries will be able to save enough to purchase a sewing machine and start their own business.

Objectives

Promote the social and professional inclusion of vulnerable girls and teenage mothers trained at the Saint Daniel Comboni Women's Promotion Center.
Facilitate young women's access to the labor market.
Provide a safe space for internships and professional practice.
Generate a source of income to self-finance the Center.

Beneficiaries

Direct: 10 girls selected from the Center's top graduates

Indirect: families, other girls at the center, and the local community

Referent sister of the project: Sr. Juliette Makolet