Action Sociale et d’Organisation Paysanne ‘ASOP’ is a 25 years old Non-Governmental Organization for Development (NGDOs), operational since 1991 in the province of South Kivu, DRC. In supporting its partners at the base, ASOP focuses on self-promotion efforts to improve ever so slightly their living conditions. This support goes through local organizations (Development Families, Local development committees, etc.); the current number of members is about 20,502 people. ASOP Vision: A world of Kivu where grassroots partners are enterprising, self-sufficient and therefore resilient and able to cope with basic social needs. Mission: We are a non-political, secular organization that fights against poverty and injustice suffered by populations in Kivu and, through capacity building, support for necessary inputs, promotion of human rights and good governance. Risk of Disaster Management and Environmental Protection
3. Promoting entrepreneurship
4. Improving access to primary health care, clean water and family planning
5. Promotion of human rights, good governance and securing land
For quite some time now, our actions in the context of entrepreneurship are growing and this much in agricultural youth entrepreneurship. We are already working with some young people and hope to strengthen our support to develop their entrepreneurial activities; it is in this sense that from 8thto 10thFebruary 2016 we organized an international symposium on youths’ agricultural entrepreneurship, where the Youlima platform came to life coming from two English and Swahili words 'youth and Kulima' (young people in agriculture). Several speakers, development organizations, DR Congo government representatives, academic institutions, enterprises both national and international such as IDRC Canada, IITA, Mukulima young (Kenya), SINA (Uganda) and many more took part in the meetings. Our dream is to have this done annually, so that people can not only share experiences and knowledge but also to evaluate what has been done. Following this session, a series of recommendations rose up in promoting agricultural entrepreneurship among young people. This program is the result of the recommendations made at the symposium. It was defined during a planning session that brought together different stakeholders, ASOP’s agents and her partners. It offers two main axes namely:
- The professionalization of agriculture
- The mastery of the entrepreneurial process by youth
To attain these levels of agricultural professionalization and mastery of the entrepreneurial processes, the youths have to go through trainings, access financial resources, structure their organizations, access to different equipment and agricultural inputs.
