Celebrating Community Support Center Day: A day of healing, hope, and empowerment

by Byolenganya Olo

On a day filled with joy and unity, the Community Support Center (CSC-Asbl) commemorated Community Support Center Day in Uvira, South Kivu — gathering over 1,300 children, youth, community members, and leaders in a celebration of resilience, inclusion, and empowerment.

Held in honor of our founder’s birthday, the event aimed to raise awareness about CSC-Asbl’s mission while strengthening bonds among displaced persons, host communities, and partners. Local leaders, IDP representatives, government officials, security agents, and journalists joined to amplify critical messages around gender equality, child safeguarding, and peacebuilding.

Play4Peace and Mental Health Support | Watch on YouTube

With support from individual donors, Quaker Worldwide, and our founder’s unwavering commitment, the event showcased our core programs in action. Led by Coach Lydia, our Gender Equality Director, and peer coaches, Play4Peace and Mental Health Support(P4PM) activities engaged participants in sports designed to foster emotional well-being and inclusion, especially for girls and women.

Coach Lydia noted:“When women and girls are part of the team, they realize their value, not just as players, but as leaders. This is how we heal, grow, and empower each other.”

When women and girls are part of the team, they realize their value, not just as players, but as leaders. This is how we heal, grow, and empower each other.
- Coach Lydia

Traditional games like Kaloke, Kange, Horo, and jump rope brought joy to children from both displaced and host communities. A mixed-gender soccer match between two P4PM clubs in Uvira, and another between Kitundu IDP and Kilibula youth, promoted sportsmanship and peace.

Alongside games, licensed therapists facilitated group psychotherapy sessions and art therapy, creating safe spaces for youth to share, reflect, and begin healing from trauma caused by conflict.

Participants, parents, and local officials shared powerful testimonies of renewed hope. One parent said, “My child has suffered, but today I saw hope in their eyes. This event gave them back their smile.”

Community Support Center Day reaffirmed CSC-Asbl’s commitment to building a resilient, inclusive future in South Kivu. With continued support, we will keep providing pathways to healing through sports, mental health, and education.