Kinshasa: young people urged to work as volunteers to gain experience

Kinshasa, April 17^th, 2025, (CPA) – The young students were urged to work as volunteers before embarking on a professional career, in order to gain experience, at a meeting called ‘Connect up’, organised on Wednesday in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. ‘Companies need people with experience. I would ask young students to work as volunteers to gain experience, to become aware, to work hard, that’s what’s going to help us achieve great things’, has declared Christian Biaya, president of the non-profit organisation ‘Green Social Club’. We have launched a programme called ‘connect up’, where we call on experienced people to talk to young students. We help young people to be prepared for the professional world, and it’s been a very rewarding and excellent time of exchange and networking« , he has added.  ‘Succeeding in the professional world, what universities don’t tell you’ was the theme developed during this exchange, which highlighted the demands of the professional world beyond the theoretical knowledge learnt at school. ‘The university does not offer students enough tools to enable them to be effective in preparing for the professional world that awaits them. Sometimes because of a lack of resources or vision But the system is such that it’s up to you, the students, to take charge by establishing a predefined career plan and capitalising on time’, has said Joelle Mika, a professional woman and consultant. She also stressed the importance of studies and diplomas in a professional career, not forgetting the importance of self-training and extracurricular knowledge. ‘University is very important because it gives us certain foundations and shapes our intellect. I encourage young people to study, to go as far as they can in their studies, but it’s important to train as well. Hence the importance of ‘Connect up’ to make up for certain shortcomings’, Ms Mika has explained. ‘The professional world is very pragmatic. It’s the skills and techniques that are most in demand that predominate. There are online and face-to-face programmes, both free and paid, that enable young people to develop their activities, get training and even finance their entrepreneurial ideas’, she has added. The event, organised by Green Social Club, will bring together another group of students next week to discuss the same theme at the American Corner of the Protestant University of Congo (UPC). ‘Connect up’ is a programme initiated by Green Social Club, with the aim of setting up regular meetings between professionals and students to help them prepare for and understand the challenges of the professional world.