République démocratique du Congo - Startup de moins de 3 ans

Décrivez votre projet en quelques mots

Umoja Sport is a nonprofit organization operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo whose mission is to create a safe and thriving community for everyone through sport, education, and economic empowerment.

01.01 Décrivez votre startup en détail

Umoja, meaning "Unity" in Swahili, is the guiding principle behind this transformative organization. By harnessing the power of sports, particularly football, Umoja Sport brings community members together to address pressing social issues hindering sustainable development. Aligning our work with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, our vision is to contribute actively to a thriving and resilient Congo, where young people have equitable access to education and are empowered to solve community challenges innovatively. Umoja Sport's three-pronged approach includes: 1. Sport for Development: Using sports to foster personal growth and catalyze social change through the development of essential life skills. 2. Education: Integrating educational modules and awareness campaigns into sports-based activities to provide participants with knowledge and skills for sustainable development. 3. Economic Empowerment: Implementing programs that unlock the entrepreneurial potential of young people.

01.02 Quel est le problème principal que vous essayez de résoudre ?

The education rate in the DRC is among the lowest in Africa, resulting in a high level of poverty, criminality, unemployment, ignorance of health issues, and climate change. Umoja Sport was established in response to this issue.

01.03 Dites-nous quels sont les principaux avantages et/ou bénéfices de l'utilisation du produit/service fourni par votre startup (au moins 3).

Sport: Sports for development provide opportunities for social interaction, building relationships, and developing important skills like communication, leadership, cooperation, conflict resolution, and the promotion of education. This can help build a sense of community and belonging. Sports programs bring together diverse members of the community, fostering connections, understanding, and a sense of shared purpose. This can lead to increased civic engagement and community empowerment. For out-of-school youth and young mothers, our comprehensive educational program goes beyond traditional academics. It provides a full cycle of education in regional schools, classes focused on literacy, numeracy, and crucial health topics. These include family planning, menstrual health management, and malaria prevention. Additionally, we distribute reusable menstrual cups to support menstrual hygiene. Through this holistic approach, we empower community members with the knowledge and resources.

01.04 Veuillez décrire précisément à qui s'adresse le produit/service de votre startup. Quels sont les bénéficiaires visés ?

We work and directly impact underserved communities across the Haut-Katanga, Lualaba, Haut-Lomami states. Even though we include grownup people in our programs, our main target is the youths, leaders of tomorrow.

01.05 Quand votre entreprise a-t-elle été créée ?

01/01/2022

01.06 Vendez-vous déjà votre produit/service ?

Non

01.07 Combien y a-t-il de propriétaires de votre entreprise en plus de vous ?

0

01.08 Parmi les autres propriétaires, combien sont des femmes ?

0

01.09 Veuillez décrire le profil des autres propriétaires de votre startup (compétences, expérience, etc.).

N/A

01.10 Si vous avez un site web, une page sur les médias sociaux (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin...) ou une application, veuillez fournir le(s) lien(s) ici :

https://umojasport.org

01.11 Quel est le secteur d'activité qui décrit le mieux votre entreprise ?

Autre : Non-governmental organization

02.01.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Pas de pauvreté'

5

02.01.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

The economic empowerment initiatives are designed to provide participants with vocational, technical, and financial literacy skills. The goal is to empower these community members with the knowledge and abilities to start their own small businesses. This not only increases their individual monthly household incomes, but also plays a vital role in decreasing overall poverty levels in the region.

02.02.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Faim Zéro'

2

02.02.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

N/A

02.03.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Bonne Santé et Bien Être'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.03.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Through comprehensive sports-based programs, we promote holistic health and well-being within the community. Our initiatives raise awareness on a wide range of critical health topics, including HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, COVID-19, cholera, high blood pressure, malaria, and waterborne diseases. Moreover, our programming extends beyond just athletic activities. Participants across all age groups attend specialized classes focused on menstrual health and hygiene as well as family planning. During these sessions, we provide essential resources such as sanitary pads and reusable menstrual cups to support the reproductive health and personal care needs of program participants. By seamlessly integrating vital health education and resource distribution into our sports-centered activities, we are able to comprehensively address the multifaceted well-being of the communities we serve.

02.04.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Éducation de Qualité'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.04.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

At Umoja Sport, we are firmly committed to aligning our work with the Sustainable Development Goal 4 - Quality Education. To this end, we currently provide dozens of youth participants with equal access to quality education within our regional school system. Importantly, we also closely monitor and assess their progress to ensure they are receiving the full benefits of our programming. Beyond the core academic curriculum, our organization places great emphasis on providing robust literacy and numeracy classes. These fundamental skill-building components play a crucial role in the overall development of the young people we serve, serving as a vital foundation for their educational journeys. Importantly, our educational approach also incorporates hands-on, practical activities such as sewing workshops. By equipping participants with tangible vocational skills, we aim to not only enhance their individual living conditions,

02.05.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Égalité entre les Sexes'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.05.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Gender Equality is our Flagship Activity: At Umoja Sport, promoting gender equality is at the forefront of our mission and programming. We firmly believe that empowering women and girls is essential for driving sustainable development within our communities. To this end, we have integrated gender-responsive initiatives across all aspects of our work. This includes ensuring equal access and participation opportunities for both male and female youth in our educational, sports, and economic empowerment activities. Moreover, we place a strong emphasis on challenging harmful gender norms and stereotypes. Through our targeted Sport and mentorship programs, we work to build the confidence, leadership skills, and decision-making capabilities of the young women and girls we serve. Importantly, our commitment to gender equality also extends to the staffing and management of Umoja Sport. We strive to maintain gender parity across our organizational structure, from equality to broader equal

02.06.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Eau Propre et Assainissement'

1 - pas du tout d'accord

02.06.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

N/A

02.07.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Énergie Propre et Abordable'

1 - pas du tout d'accord

02.07.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

N/A

02.08.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Travail Décent et Croissance Économique'

6

02.08.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

We train our beneficiaries to be entrepreneurs, to start small business with the aim to increase their family income

02.09.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Industrie, Innovation et Infrastructure'

1 - pas du tout d'accord

02.09.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

N/A

02.10.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Réduction des Inégalités'

1 - pas du tout d'accord

02.10.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

N/A

02.11.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Villes et Communautés Durables'

2

02.11.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

N/A

02.12.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Consommation et Production Responsables'

3

02.12.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Through our well-designed curriculum, we educate and train our youth participants to consume electrical power responsibly. This focus on promoting sustainable energy practices is a key component of our programming. Moreover, our long-term ambition is to influence government policy to establish dedicated "car-free days" in all cities within our region. By advocating for such initiatives, we aim to reduce reliance on fossil fuel-powered vehicles and encourage the adoption of more environmentally-friendly modes of transportation. We working to create a more sustainable future for the communities we serve. This multi-pronged approach, targeting both individual behaviors and systemic transformation, is central to our holistic vision for environmental stewardship and climate action.

02.13.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Lutte contre les Changements Climatiques'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.13.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Embedded within our comprehensive sports-based programs, we have developed specialized climate action curriculum modules. Through these integrated educational components, we effectively raise awareness and foster understanding among our youth participants about the critical issues of climate change, environmental preservation, and ecological protection. Going beyond just classroom-based learning, we also organize annual observances of World Tree Day. On this occasion, we not only celebrate the importance of trees and their role in sustaining our environment, but also actively collaborate with local schools to facilitate tree planting activities across the community. This hands-on, experiential approach allows our young people to directly contribute to environmental conservation efforts.

02.14.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Vie Sous-Marine'

1 - pas du tout d'accord

02.14.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

N/A

02.15.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Vie Terrestre'

1 -pas du tout d'accord

02.15.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

N/A

02.16.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Paix, Justice et Institutions Efficaces'

5

02.16.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Umoja Sport promotes peace and social cohesion through its innovative sport-for-development programs. These initiatives go beyond just athletic activities, incorporating components focused on conflict prevention, resolution, and the fostering of unity within our communities. We firmly believe that sustainable development cannot be achieved without a foundational element of peace. Therefore, our sport-based curricula are deliberately designed to equip young participants with the skills and mindsets needed to navigate and resolve conflicts constructively. Through tailored workshops and experiential learning, we empower them to become agents of peace and social harmony. By seamlessly integrating these peace-building modules into our broader sports programming, we are able to holistically address the multifaceted needs of the youth we serve.

02.17.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Parteneriats pour la Réalisation des Objectifs'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.17.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

To achieve our mission, we have strategically aligned ourselves with a network of strong partner organizations. This includes Tibu Africa, the Sport for Social Change Network Africa, Coaches Across Continents, and the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowship, among others. By cultivating these collaborative relationships, we are able to leverage collective expertise, share best practices, and amplify our impact. Furthermore, our Founder and CEO, Elvis Nshimba, is regularly invited to share Umoja Sport's innovative approaches and successful outcomes through webinars and knowledge-sharing sessions with universities in the United States, schools in Japan, and organizations across Africa. This platform allows us to contribute to the broader discourse on sport-based community development and inspire others to replicate our proven models.

06.01 Un grand nombre de clients utilisent déjà un produit/service très similaire au nôtre.

2

06.02 Notre produit/service représente un type de produit/service entièrement nouveau

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

06.03 Notre produit/service pourrait être décrit comme une nouvelle technologie

5

06.04 Notre produit/service est une amélioration d'un produit ou d'un service existant

2

06.05 Notre produit/service pourrait être décrit comme une extension d'une gamme de produits ou de services

2

06.06 Notre produit/service répond à une demande ou à un besoin qui n'a pas été satisfait par d'autres produits/services.

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

06.07 Notre produit/service est une nouvelle version d'un ancien produit/service

1 - Pas du tout d'accord

06.08 Justification

The concept of "sport for development" is relatively new within the Congolese context, where sport has traditionally been viewed primarily as a form of competition or leisure. While some organizations have attempted to rebrand competitive sports as "sport for development," Umoja Sport has pioneered innovative methodologies that leverage sports as a powerful tool for community education and engagement beyond the confines of traditional classrooms. As the first organization to truly implement holistic sport-for-development programs across the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Umoja Sport stands out. Our Founder and CEO, Elvis Nshimba, is the only individual in the country accredited as a coach in "purposeful play" by the renowned Coaches Across Continents organization. Leveraging this expertise, Nshimba has played a key role in advising the national sports minister on how Umoja Sport's unique approach can catalyze achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

06.09 Analyse compétitive

So far, we do not have competitors, and we are building new relationships with like-minded organizations across the country to bring the concept across the country

11.05 Menez-vous des actions au sein de votre communauté pour promouvoir le rôle des femmes entrepreneurs ?

Certainly. In our economic empowerment program, we initially trained female participants in Entrepreneurship and financial literacy. Half of this cohort has successfully established their own small businesses and are currently selling beef products between the Zambian border and the city of Lubumbashi. The remaining group, who received training in financial literacy, seeing and cooperative management, have been able to open their own sewing workshops. These women are now steadily increasing their incomes and inspiring to expand their operations, acquire more sewing equipment, and create employment opportunities for other women and girls in their community. As a direct result of this program l, the participants have been able to make significant progress in their lives. They have used their newfound skills and income to purchase land, improve their living conditions, and invest in their children's education. This holistic empowerment-focused approach had a transformative impact.