David Malembe is an enthusiastic international development professional with over five years of experience working in youth development, agriculture value chains, and market system development. He is the founder of Hope of Congo, a youth development organization focused on nurturing and equipping young people for community impact. David has experience designing and implementing inclusive market development strategies that create value and prosperity. He particularly enjoys sharing his knowledge with entrepreneurs, development practitioners, and policymakers to create sustainable and scalable market development initiatives. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, he plans to use his new skills and knowledge to facilitate further collaboration and support his youth development efforts.

What do you do in your home country and what do you hope to do upon completion of your Fellowship? In particular, with the integration of your experiences with Drexel University?

I am an international development professional, I have been helping international development agencies in the design and implementation of projects in eastern DRC. I am currently working with a US based international development organisation, Mercy Corps, in a food security and access to market program. My role in the program is supervising a youth training program in agribusiness and supporting youths to identify business opportunities in the agriculture sector in their communities and helping them develop the businesses. I am also the founder of a youth development organisation named Hope of Congo that focuses on nurturing and equipping young people for community impact.

What is your favorite thing about your home country?

This is quite hard to tell🙂 There is a lot I could mention but one of the things I would say I like the most is our people. Congolese are very jovial and friendly. I also like the landscape in the town where I live, Goma. My town is near the Virunga National Park ( Virunga National Park, Africa’s most biodiverse protected area, exists to protect 1/3 of the world’s wild mountain gorillas, over one thousand species of mammal, bird, reptile and amphibian, and provide a brighter future to more than four million people affected by conflict) and an active Volcano which entered into eruption less than a month ago.

What are you most excited about learning about Philadelphia?

I have heard how the town is notable for its rich history so I would like to learn about that history.

Do you have any hobbies or an interesting fact you wish to share about yourself?

I like sports. Growing up I played soccer a lot and a bit of basketball. I am now more into swimming. I also enjoy reading. 

If I were to come to your home country, what is the first thing I should eat?

Sambaza😊 These are small fish found in lake Kivu. They are very delicious.