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The University of Goma (UNIGOM), in partnership with Action Against Hunger (ACF), organized a Forum on Psychology Professions from Monday, December 22 to Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at the Lake Campus, bringing together students, teachers, professionals, and partners.

The aim of this forum was to enhance the training of psychology students, provide them with a better understanding of career opportunities, and highlight the role of psychologists in the Congolese context, marked by major psychosocial challenges.

Two days of exchanges, analyses, and reflections on the realities of the profession

Over two days, participants engaged in in-depth discussions about the various branches of psychology, their professional opportunities, as well as the major challenges faced by psychologists and mental health professionals, particularly in community development areas (ADC).

Among the challenges raised, speakers particularly emphasized the lack of a clear legal framework governing the practice of psychology in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a situation that undermines the recognition, protection, and structuring of the profession. Discussions also focused on current mental health issues in a context marked by crises, violence, and psychosocial vulnerabilities.

The discussions highlighted the role of psychologists in various sectors, including: the school environment, supporting well-being and educational success; the humanitarian sector, responding to trauma and psychosocial emergencies; justice; and the workplace, promoting organizational mental health and preventing psychosocial risks.

Attention was also given to the place of transcultural psychology, emphasizing the need to adapt psychological approaches to local sociocultural realities to ensure relevant, ethical, and effective interventions with Congolese communities.

These exchanges allowed students to better understand the realities of the profession, the professional requirements, as well as the prospects for engagement and advocacy for better structuring of the profession in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A donation of books to strengthen academic capacities

Alongside the proceedings, Action Against Hunger (ACF) made a donation of scientific books for the benefit of the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Goma.

This donation consists of 17 titles, with 6 copies per title, aimed at supporting the learning, research, and professional practice of students and teachers.

Speaking on this occasion, the representative of Action Against Hunger (ACF), Mr. Gerard Soro, congratulated the University of Goma for organizing this forum and for the quality of the exchanges. He expressed the hope that these moments of reflection could be fruitful and lead to concrete improvements in the practice of psychology professions, in service of communities affected by crises.

"We congratulate the University of Goma for organizing this forum, which allowed for rich and constructive exchanges around psychology professions. Through the donation of scientific books to the Faculty of Psychology, Action Against Hunger also wishes to contribute to strengthening the academic and professional capacities of students, in order to sustainably improve mental health care for the benefit of communities." stated Mr. Gérard SORO, Deputy Country Director of ACF.

Recognition and commitment for the sustainability of the partnership

The books were officially received by Professor Dr. Juste YAMONEKA, Director of Cooperation at the University of Goma, who, on behalf of the academic authorities and the Rector of UNIGOM, Professor Ordinary Muhindo Mughanda, expressed his deep gratitude to Action Against Hunger for this significant gesture.

He praised a dynamic partnership whose results are beginning to materialize and reaffirmed the university's commitment to use these books wisely, both for academic training and for the professional development of students.

"On behalf of the academic authorities and the Rector of the University of Goma, we express our deep gratitude to Action Against Hunger for this donation of scientific books. This partnership is beginning to produce visible results. We commit to using these books wisely and call for the continuation of this collaboration to achieve even more ambitious accomplishments together." stated Professor Dr. Juste YAMONEKA, Director of Cooperation at UNIGOM.

On behalf of the beneficiary students, a representative of the participants thanked Action Against Hunger as well as the academic authorities of UNIGOM for making this activity possible.

He emphasized the importance of this forum in acquiring new knowledge, both on the pla