Partner Highlight
Mariam Merry Kabamba
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
GROWING GREEN LIVELIHOODS IN MINING-IMPACTED COMMUNITIES: Training youth in micro-enterprise development that can sustain them and their environment.
YEAR 1 IMPACT
100+
Community members Engaged
20
Youth Leaders Trained in Environmental Literacy and Green Entrepreneurship
Small Green Enterprise Established
3
Mariam Merry Kabamba is a geologist, environmental manager, and the National Coordinator of Congo Environnement et Nature, where she leads efforts to advance youth-led climate resilience and sustainable development in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Her program tackles the intersecting challenges of youth unemployment, food insecurity, and environmental degradation in peri-urban communities of Lubumbashi by cultivating young green entrepreneurs. Motivated by the harsh realities of climate change and impacts of mining in her region, Mariam is committed to creating inclusive pathways for opportunity and resilience. Through environmental leadership training, climate literacy, and support for green business development, she equips marginalized and unemployed young people with the skills and resources needed to build sustainable, climate-smart enterprises.
In the first year of the Accelerator Fund, Mariam trained 20 youth in climate and environmental literacy, specialized green entrepreneurship, and business development. With seed grants and individualized coaching, participants launched three youth-led green enterprises, creating self-employment opportunities and demonstrating practical, climate-smart solutions. The project also reached more than 100 community members indirectly through a public environmental event, where youth showcased their initiatives, shared key lessons, and advocated for sustainable environmental practices.
Mariam is building on the successes of the past year, training new young green entrepreneurs and providing micro-grants and coaching to help them launch and scale productive ventures. The current phase also deepens environmental advocacy through community events designed to inspire residents to take action on climate challenges, fostering a more inclusive and resilient green economy.
“Working on this project through the Accelerator Fund helped me develop various skills in communication and conflict management. The renewal of this project will mark a significant achievement in my professional goals as an environmental educator.”