"I am the only girl on the team."

7.2 million people in the DRC can't live at home anymore.

It's far too dangerous.

Immaculée is one of them.

Despite the tragedy, she's choosing to build a future, her way.

In her own words...

"I chose to become a mechanic because of that terrifying night in the forest.

We travelled in a lorry, then the lorry broke down when it was already 7p.m.

We spent the night in the middle of the forest, with the risk of being eaten by wild animals from the park or killed by armed people in the area.

I saw people spending the whole night underneath the vehicle, trying to repair the breakdown until the morning.

We feared for our lives."

"Some time later we fled the war and took refuge here in Goma in an IDP camp (Internally Displaced Persons).

And that's when World Vision, through its partner Coeur Sans Frontière, enrolled me in a youth reintegration programme.

Other girls preferred cutting and sewing but I chose car mechanics because of that terrifying night.

I wanted to be capable of fixing the problem myself.

I didn't want to feel that helpless again."

Your gift has allowed 90 young Internally Displaced Persons like Immaculée to choose a technical trade through the Childhood Rescue programme in East DRC.

According to OCHA, since the start of 2024, more than 738,000 people have been newly displaced in the DRC, bringing the total to around 7.2 million.

Immaculée surprised everyone by choosing mechanics. But the team were inspired, she felt confident to do that and you can be encouraged that your gift helped her do it.

Social reintegration programmes provide the tools to women and young people to create businesses, learn trades and build a future, even in the most complex and dangerous places.