21-02-2025 | di COOPI

DRC. Josué, a new beginning between entrepreneurship and agro-pastoralism after the darkness of war

Born on December 12, 1989, Josué is the seventh child of a large family living in Mahagi Douane, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). At just 14 years old, his childhood was shattered by war when he was forcibly recruited by the Congolese Popular Army (APC) in 2002. What could have been an irreversible situation was instead transformed thanks to the project "Psychosocial and Socioeconomic Reintegration of Young Mothers Victims of War in Ituri and Integration of Complementary Services for Victims in Emergency Situations under the Ntaganda Case," funded by the International Criminal Court.

It was an ordinary day when Josué was playing cards with other young people in his neighborhood in Mahagi Douane. The sudden arrival of Congolese Popular Army forces turned his life upside down. Forced to board their vehicles, he was taken to the military training center at Mont Awa, in the Aru region, where he underwent intensive military training.

As a "child soldier," Josué faced brutal realities. During combat in Ndrele, he was seriously injured by two bullets, one in his right shoulder and the other in his clavicle. Treated at the Mahagi Mission Referral Health Center, he survived but was forced to return to the ranks of the militia.

Over time, Josué was integrated into the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) following a merger between militias, marking a new phase in his life as a fighter. It was only with the arrival of MONUSCO (the UN Mission in the DRC) that he was finally demobilized and regained his freedom.

After demobilization, Josué lived in a displacement camp before returning home, where he was warmly welcomed by his family. His reintegration into the community was facilitated by organizations such as COOPI – Cooperazione Internazionale and the Integrated Development Support Program (PADI).

He participated in group therapy and mental health support sessions led by psychosocial workers and psychologists, who played a key role in his psychological recovery. At the same time, he received medical care for the lasting effects of his injuries.

Josué pursued training in entrepreneurship and agro-pastoralism, which allowed him to transform his life. With financial support of $850, he launched several income-generating activities. Today, he owns two motorcycles used for taxi-moto services, a goat-trading business, and a livestock farming activity.

Thanks to his agro-pastoral skills, Josué has also become a veterinarian for his community group, helping his people while securing his own financial stability. His success has enabled him to purchase two plots of land, build a house, and ensure his two children’s education for two years.

 

I thank COOPI for its help because I am doing well both psychologically and physically, and my income-generating activity is growing. I also thank the FPV donor for the initiative to come and see firsthand what we have become thanks to this project. I hope this support does not stop with us but extends to others who have suffered as we have." 

 

His story is a testament to human resilience and the power of rehabilitation. Today, Josué is a symbol of hope and transformation, proving that with the right support, it is possible to overcome even the most traumatic experiences and build a dignified and fulfilling life.

COOPI, works in the Democratic Republic of Congo since 1977, constantly carries out Protection activities, promoting psycho-social support interventions and free health care, managing prevention and protection projects against the recruitment of children in the context of conflict, promoting school and professional reintegration activities.  Since 2011, COOPI has been implementing projects funded by the ICC, which include the psycho-social reintegration of single mothers and the collective reparation of war victims.