Blandine was able to break stereotypes by attending Don Bosco Bukavu Technical School in the Democratic Republic of Congo. "Not all girls have to be seamstresses and not all boys have to be mechanics or welders," she says. However, it was not all easy for her. "I had to drop out of school because my family could not afford the tuition. Also, my father died in 2020 and I started taking care of my younger siblings," she added.
The young woman remembers when she chose to approach the Salesians and when she realized she could learn a trade and help her family. "I was always interested in how to build walls and buildings, and since there is a lot of construction going on in Bukavu right now, I thought it would be a good future for me and that I would be good at it." Blandine set a goal and took all the exams, participating in the practical training along with her male classmates. She obtained her professional certificate and, she says, will always be grateful for the theoretical, practical and religious education she received from the Salesians.
Then, after finishing her studies, Blandine got her first contract. "In these two years, I have worked at five construction sites and have always been complimented on my work. I never lacked employment," she explained, "Thanks to a stable and professional job, I have money for my expenses, to save and to help at home. Now I can pay my younger siblings' school fees, and we are planning to expand our house as well," she continued.
The young woman then wished to address all young people who, like her, want to study and learn a trade. "I advise girls to learn manual jobs that are thought to be reserved only for boys, because of course we are just as capable. This is the best way to ensure that we are not taken advantage of, that we don't marry too young, and that our rights are clear." Indeed, Blandine, who never stops thinking about her future, imagines having a large family, with a good husband and many children to whom she can give a good education, like the one she received from the Salesians in Bukavu.
Source: Misiones Salesianas
