[ti:Congolese Arts Center Helps Street Children Find Their Voice]
[al:Arts and Culture]
[ar:VOA]
[dt:2023-09-08]
[by:www.voase.cn]
[00:00.00]A small recording room outside the Congolese capital Kinshasa has become a safe space for homeless teenagers.
[00:12.16]They sing about their life on the streets and dream of a better future.
[00:17.94]The homeless sing about sexual abuse, stealing, theft, and dealings with the police at the Mokili Na Poche cultural center.
[00:31.83]It is a safe space that permits young people and children to wash, eat, and learn.
[00:40.20]"It really makes me happy when I sing," said 19-year-old Osé Mavakala.
[00:48.00]He has slept on the streets for years.
[00:52.97]There are more than 20,000 homeless children in Kinshasa, UNICEF, the U.N. agency, has found.
[01:03.09]Other teenagers looked on with happiness as Mavakala rapped into the recording equipment at the center in late August.
[01:14.94]Mavakala dreams of bigger goals after having the chance to record in a real recording space.
[01:24.13]He said, "It encourages me and I tell myself - ah, life belongs to the courageous."
[01:34.17]He added that U.S. rapper Lil Wayne and Congolese star Fally Ipupa influenced his music.
[01:43.89]He has been coming to the center for the past three years, taking part in the music, art, and reading classes it offers throughout the day. 
[01:56.15]Founder Cedrick Tshimbalanga hopes these skills and daily experiences will help the children build a base for their life and their voices.
[02:10.03]"With music...young people are able to talk about their daily experience - everything they live through daily: rape, theft, trauma, attacks," said Tshimbalanga, who plans to release their music soon.
[02:28.80]The classes are also a chance for young people to make up for lost possibilities in life.
[02:37.03]While the Democratic Republic of Congo has made progress in education, over 7 million children aged between five and 17 still do not have schooling, UNICEF found.
[02:53.22]"Break free from the criminal life, my friend, it's time to see what the future holds for you," Mavakala rapped during an emotion-filled performance at the center in August.
[03:07.95]I'm Gregory Stachel.