The Popular American actress, Loretta Swit once said: “If you care enough, you make a difference.”
These few words describe Ms Gloria Lwamba, a passionate young African from DR Congo who has pushed her limits against the odds to make a difference in Africa and the world in general.
We had an interview with the beautiful (and ever-smiling) African youth ambassador over the weekend to have an insight into her life and passion.
Enjoy excerpts from the interview below and be inspired.
Glamsquad Magazine: Hello ma’am, can we meet you?
Gloria Lwamba: Hello, my name is Gloria Lwamba from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
I am an entrepreneur and I also own an NGO called New Generation of Innovators in Congo. I am also a youth leader.
Glamsquad Magazine: Congrats on your new degree.
Gloria Lwamba: Thank you so much. I have just completed a Degree in Public law, which qualifies me as a jurist. I am very happy with this development. Thank you so much again.
I believe to be able to make an impact; one must constantly learn and train his/herself for development and to acquire new knowledge.
This is the reason behind my decision to take a degree in public law and become a jurist.
Glamsquad Magazine: How did you manage to create a balance between your life, entrepreneurship, work and getting a new degree?
Gloria Lwamba: Thank you so much, the truth is that it wasn’t easy because since I was about 15 years old I have learned to be an entrepreneur. I have taken training on how to manage a business, how to manage people; but I was also going to school.
So it was a difficult situation because going to school and working as an entrepreneur is complex as it can take away your education or life as a normal young girl, so it wasn’t easy.
Another challenging aspect was preparing for exams which mean I have to stop my business and visit the libraries in Kinshasa often.
This was one of the most difficult things to do because business involves passion especially when you see the benefits.
Your energy gets attracted to the business aspect, but you have to create a balance otherwise you will lose it.
Despite my work, I have always been involved in different fellowships and I saw everyone around me as partners.
Creating a balance demanded responsibility and discipline and sacrifice. I had to sacrifice my personal lifestyle a lot and social life.
Glamsquad Magazine: Tell us about your Entrepreneurship project.
Gloria Lwamba: I own an NGO that works in line with the SDG that centres on the environment. There are other issues, like poverty, employment etc. and all of these are related to poor environmental management.
My NGO gives training to individuals on how we can create entrepreneurs through recycling plastic bottles that pollute our environment.
We train people not to only improve sanity in the environment but to also become entrepreneurs who can take care of themselves.
There is a lot of plastic waste in Kinshasa and we need more people to get involved in our project. We train these people to use plastic bottles to make furniture, clothes, jewellery, etc.
Glamsquad Magazine: Will you say the government is assisting young female entrepreneurs like yourself.
Gloria Lwamba: No, I have not received any funding from the government.
I have decided not to wait on the government for funding because my passion leads and fuels my drive. But I am still hoping that one day the government will assist us in one way or the other.
I have been doing recycling since I was 13-years-old, today I go to schools to talk to people. I train people and I am proud of this.
Glamsquad Magazine: What are the challenges you have faced so far
Gloria Lwamba: The first challenge is the lack of government assistance. There is also ignorance and lack of information on climate change and recycling.
Plastic does a lot of damage both to our environment and climate.
We are spending a lot of time and resources to create awareness.
Glamsquad Magazine: What is your motivation?
Gloria Lwamba: My motivation is the love for Africa and my country; the love for work.
I am motivated to work. I am even considering doing my masters and PhD.
Also, I am motivated by my trust in African youths.
“The Africa we want will be created by Africans.”
Glamsquad Magazine: What is your dream for Africa?
Gloria Lwamba: My dream for Africa is peace and security and a clean environment.
Jobs for African youths.
Glamsquad Magazine: What is your advice to young entrepreneurs out there?
Gloria Lwamba: My advice for them is to be humble, discipline, work hard and continue to learn.
I have certifications from Harvard, University of Colorado and now am a jurist.
We need to learn and keep learning. Most importantly to invest in Africa.
Glamsquad Magazine: Any words of advice to aspiring entrepreneurs out there?
Gloria Lwamba: My advice is ‘keep winning’, keep going forward.
Don’t stay in the same place. Move.
If you cannot run, walk.
Many entrepreneurs are always expecting things from people. They need to move.
Glamsquad Magazine: Thank you so much for your time.
Gloria Lwamba: It is a pleasure.
