Supporting a young entrepreneur to build their business and their economic resilience

Charly Solo   grew up with a physical condition that caused her to face discrimination within her family, at school, in church, and among acquaintances. She was often overlooked and denied the chance to express her opinions. In response, she would assert, “I’m physically handicapped, but not mentally.”

After her mother passed away, Charly found herself without a stable place to live.

“The houses I stayed in were sometimes ashamed of me. I was hidden from people’s eyes. At times, I questioned why I was born and thought the crying that marked my infancy would continue throughout my life. My joy came after I graduated from state school, gaining a sense of independence and feeling ready to face life,” she shared.

Despite enduring discrimination, Charly completed both primary and secondary school. She dreamed of working in the media, particularly on TV, but faced discouragement.

“Unfortunately, my father discouraged me due to fears of humiliation because of my physical condition. As a result, I stopped at a state sewing diploma when I truly wanted to attend university,” she recalled.

In her region, women are often excluded from decision-making processes. They face numerous challenges, including mistreatment and a lack of recognition.

Through partnerships with local organizations Jeunialissime and Si Jeunesse Savait  , the Talents Pluriels project provides training to marginalized youth, including women, LGBTQ+  individuals, and people living with albinism. The program promotes gender-sensitive business practices and supports participants in their job searches.

The program enabled Charly to better meet customer demands and organize her business documents. It also guided her toward achieving her dreams.

“By participating in this program, I hoped for guidance, follow-up, and support—and Cuso made that possible. Acquiring new skills was challenging at first, but my determination carried me through,” she explained.

Since joining the program, Charly has learned how to navigate social dynamics and support others in overcoming unemployment. The program taught her to manage her profit margins, save money to pay employees, and set fixed prices for her products.

“Thanks to this project, I’ve become self-sufficient. In my community, doubts have faded about the true intentions of organizations working to help young people,” she noted.

“I dream of expanding my project across all 26 provinces of the DRC—and even beyond—to share ‘Made in DRC’ products with the world,” she added.