World Relief - Congo

Congo in Crisis: Human Catastrophe Unfolds

The crisis is rapidly unfolding into a humanitarian disaster on a huge scale.  Reports of random killings, rape and other atrocities are widespread.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has suffered a long history of conflict and destruction. With over four million deaths in the last eight years caused directly or indirectly by conflict, the DRC continues to lose 1,200 people every single day—half of them children. Rich in natural resources, the Congo lacks the infrastructure and support to develop its economy. The spread of HIV and continuing conflict between over 200 language and tribal groups provide significant barriers to development.

The Story of the Church at Work

World Relief began working around Goma, Eastern Congo in 2001, near the center of the conflict. More than 40,000 families received food, seeds, household good and tools. For a population divided along ethnic lines, workshops on peace and reconciliation bring church leaders together and encourage cooperation and healing. At a recent workshop, pastors wept, repented and committed to call on their congregations to reconcile. Now, pastors, church leaders and volunteers are working together across denominations to serve widows and orphans, and help suffering people in their communities.

World Relief comes alongside local churches encouraging reconciliation and rehabilitation in eastern Congo. World Relief brings denominations and tribal groups together to rebuild homes and public buildings for over 8,000 families.

“Through the training sessions on leadership, reconciliation and conflict resolution people in the church are beginning to see the need to live in harmony…and this wouldn’t have been possible without the help and support of World Relief,” noted Gilbert Muhindo Bushi, a pastor in DRC.

The DRC already has well over a million people living with AIDS, and the number is rapidly growing. Churches are equipped with the resources and knowledge to reach out to people in their communities living with the disease. Thousands of pastors and volunteers are taught prevention and care lessons, which they, in turn, share with their communities dramatically reducing the fear surrounding the disease and encouraging compassionate responses.

World Relief also established Congo’s microfinance program, Hekima, in April 2004 to provide affordable financial services to underserved communities and to help strengthen the entire microfinance sector in Congo. Operating in Goma - the eastern part of Congo - Hekima provides very poor entrepreneurs access to financial services using a modified community bank lending approach. In October 2006, Hekima opened a new branch in the eastern city of Bukavu.

Hekima has barely begun to meet the vast needs for financial services that exist in Congo’s eastern communities. The success seen to date, however, promises great change in the financial landscape. As Hekima expands, it will continue to provide hope to entrepreneurs in Goma and other communities in Eastern Congo.