Darleine Sango Dewalo
Darleine Sango Dewalo, from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is the founder of “Info Climat,” an initiative aimed at empowering women farmers in Fizi territory (Western DRC) who are affected by climate change. The project focuses on equipping these women with practical skills to develop sustainable agriculture practices that address food security challenges in the context of a changing climate.
With the support of the Giving Joy grant, Darleine will led hands-on training for 25 women and girls in Sebele village—those most affected by land degradation—in agroecology. Through hands-on learning in farmer field schools, they have gained skills in organic fertilizer production, biopesticides, soil conservation, and agroforestry. Participants are now applying these techniques in their own fields, using organic seeds and agricultural tools provided through the project.
The impact is transformative. These women have resumed farming, increasing local food production—market garden crops like amaranth and tomatoes have risen by 20%. Conflicts over arable land have decreased by 15%, and previously degraded land is being restored. Each trained woman has shared her knowledge with five others, expanding the project's reach to 150 women and 450 children, benefiting a total of 600 people.
Darleine stated that: “Beyond agriculture, this grant has strengthened my leadership. I am now invited to community meetings where I previously had no voice, and my organization is gaining the expertise to support women in other affected areas like Kabimba. As a result, more women-led initiatives are emerging, and I am mentoring them in climate resilience and sustainable agriculture.”
Looking ahead, Darleine will continue to provide agribusiness training to help these women to turn their farming into sustainable livelihoods, further strengthening their economic independence. The healthy organic seeds and agricultural tools obtained through this project will be used for years after the grant and contribute to the development of sustainable agricultural strategies that respond to the challenges of food security.
