In the heart of Kitshanga, in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, thousands of displaced families are striving to rebuild their lives amid recurring violence and instability. Years of armed conflict have forced communities to flee their homes again and again, leaving behind everything they own.
Beyond relief: how cash support is restoring hope in eastern DR Congo
Yet, despite the hardship, women like Aline, Françoise and Justine are showing remarkable resilience, and reminding us that even in crisis, hope can take root.
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Aline: rebuilding after loss
At 30, Aline Muhoza has already been displaced several times. Since 2022, she has fled from one place to another, each time escaping clashes that have torn Kitshanga apart. Returning to her home village of Hembe remains impossible due to ongoing insecurity.
In May 2025, Aline received cash assistance from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), as part of a project that supported over 7,100 returnee families in Kitshanga. Receiving the equivalent of 120 US dollars, she prioritised food for her malnourished children and medical care for her sick brother.
She also restarted her small banana juice business. The income she earns remains modest, but it represents a lifeline for her family.
“We have food to eat, but we can’t afford meat or clothes for the children,” she explains. Her story reflects the reality faced by thousands of families: without security, housing and sustainable livelihoods, return remains fragile and uncertain.
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Françoise: growing resilience from the ground up
In 2023, Françoise and her family fled their village of Loufounda after violent clashes erupted nearby. During the escape, her husband was seriously injured and became permanently disabled. At just 32, Françoise suddenly found herself the head of a large household.
Two years later, the family is settled in Kitshanga’s Mboué neighbourhood. Conditions remain difficult, but Françoise has regained a sense of stability and hope. In May 2025, she too received NRC’s cash assistance, which she used to start a small farming project.
With her hands in the soil, Françoise cultivates corn and taro on rented plots — both to feed her family and to earn a modest income. “I feel dignified again,” she says. “I hope to feed my children through my own efforts.”
Each furrow she plants represents another step toward rebuilding, proof that resilience can grow even in the harshest soil.
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Justine: stitching her life back together
A professional seamstress from the village of Pati, Sarah Justine, 28, lost everything when conflict reached her home in 2024. She fled with her husband and four children, leaving behind her sewing machine, her clients, and her sense of stability.
In Kitshanga, she was hosted by a generous family who offered her land to build a shelter. When she received the equivalent of 90 US Dollars in cash assistance from NRC, she immediately invested in what she knew best: sewing. Renting a space and a machine, she reopened a small workshop and began earning income again.
“This assistance allowed me to get back to my craft,” she says proudly. Her two oldest children are now back in school, and she dreams of expanding her workshop to train other displaced women. Stitch by stitch, she is mending both fabric and her own dignity.
Investing in hope
The stories of Aline, Françoise and Justine reveal a common truth: cash assistance restores not only livelihoods, but dignity. Each woman demonstrates resilience and determination in the face of repeated displacement. But their courage alone cannot sustain them.
In eastern DR Congo, emergency aid must go hand in hand with long-term investment. Only through structural, sustained support can families like theirs rebuild their lives with dignity and stability.
Because every step toward recovery deserves to be supported, and every dream deserves a chance to grow.
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