Soba Nsilulu Dieumerci (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

I am a young journalist born in Kinshasa in 1991. Likewise, I did my secondary studies at the academy of fine arts, as I beIieve I have a gift in the plastic arts.

For several reasons, I did not obtain my diploma in fine arts. Today, I have moved on to another field in which I have graduated : journalism. Which was also like my second dream job.

From foreign political journalism, to the National Pedagogical University (UPN), my greatest wish is to achieve my ambitions and finally help other young people who also have dreams achieve theirs.

I also spent almost a year in Congo-Brazzaville, where I experienced the tough test of achieving my objectives despite a lack of means.

In 2018, I lived the darkest days of my life when I lost my only little sister during the final year ahead of my undergraduate studies. I was inconsolable during this period. It’s the worst memory of my entire life. Life ceased having any meaning after this tragic event, which was a very difficult moment for me. But over time, and thanks to the advice of others, I finally realized that everything is part of life. I adapted to life again, as I turned that sad event into a strength today. 

Over the years, I managed to stay strong, and now a journalist for the newspaper Échos duMonde, a print media outlet. During my academic internship, I worked at an online media on behalf of Actualité.cd, the most popular website in DRC. There, I learned a lot as a young journalist. Today, I am determined to further my studies in journalism and communications in postgraduate studies. 

I also wish to flourish and succeed massively as a journalist in order to be able to inspire other coming journalists. I intend to do that by organizing journalism workshops and by creating communications agencies to promote young students studying journalism who lack financial means or who face other difficulties in their studies.

Furthermore, I am proud to be a journalist, and am determined to go as far as I can, because it is a noble and critical profession. 

Looking back at the time when I was doing plastic arts, I loved every bit of it. I would spend time making drawings in my notebooks and on the wall all over my room. Also, I was so good at producing comics, telling imaginary stories.

Literally, I was among the best in high school in drawing. Creating art and drawings out of nothing, even on my clothes, seemed so easy for me to do. Becoming an artist was definitely my dream number one.

Besides, I’m a big fan of American cinema and music, where life seems so good. The contrast is big in comparison with the district where I live in Kinshasa. It is a place to the west of the city where I see many jobless young people with the talent and potential to do much better in life, but the lack of means and help will jeopardize their chances to make it in life. That’s why there is urban banditry in Kinshasa. 

I am so lucky and blessed to have a family.