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Disaster response

Hope one year after the Nyiragongo eruption

It has been one year since the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano –one of the natural disasters to have occurred in the DRC's North Kivu province over the past 10 years; leaving hundreds of thousands of people in a situation of increased vulnerability. With support from Aktion Deutschland Hilft, World Vision was quick to respond to needs and through this project, we have seen hope triumph over bad memories. 

Click below to discover how we have impacted lives over the past year.

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Clean water strengthens social cohesion between households in Kalehe
World Water Day

Access to potable water transforms life for households in Kalehe

Today, Norbert's community is relieved with the accessibility of clean water and the reduction of the distance its members used to have to travel to fetch drinking water. As president of the water management committee, he is motivated by the reduction of waterborne diseases that plagued his community and snatched children's lives in previous years. 

Norbert believes that community participation on this project has also strengthened social cohesion.

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Women's leadership: A cornerstone to family stability and local development
International Women's Day

Why women's leadership is a cornerstone to family stability and local development

Feeling involved and gratified, Gisèle knows the joy of having recovered her right to participate in the decision-making process in her household. She and her husband participated in local groups where they learned about the importance of attention to gender, gender-based violence, women’s leadership, and the benefits of shared decision-making and joint management of family resources.

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The difference one year of sponsorship can make--even in a pandemic

The difference one year of sponsorship can make--even in a pandemic

Like so many others, the pandemic hasn’t been easy for 16-year-old Zita's family. Being home from school meant that she and her four siblings missed out on a nutritious meal they usually would have received at school.

Thankfully, throughout the turmoil of this year, there has been a glimmer of hope for the family: child sponsorship. The support from Zita and her sisters’ sponsors have meant that their mother, Angel, has been able to remain above water, even in her darkest hour. 

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Famliies flee volcano erruption in DRC
Emergency Support

World Vision responds

To the needs of families fleeing volcanic eruption in the Democratic Republic of Congo

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The DRC bracing to contain Ebola outbreak as Guinea announces cases

The DRC bracing to contain Ebola outbreak as Guinea announces cases

The World Health Organisation and humanitarian agencies are rushing to stop the spread of the deadly Ebola Disease after three cases were confirmed in one week in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These cases are reported in Butembo, an epicentre of a previous outbreak (the 10th in the country) that was declared over in June last year.

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Children at an increased risk of exploitation in the DRC’s complex context during the pandemic
COVID-19 Aftershocks

Children at an increased risk of exploitation in the DRC’s complex context during the pandemic

The interplay between conflict, food shortage, poverty, diseases (measles, Ebola, COVID-19), and a lack of access to social amenities has left children vulnerable to child labour, early marriage, and other forms of child abuse. World Vision notes that several cases of violations have been recorded during this time when children are forced to stay at home to save them from illness. 

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Congo

Internal conflict and prolonged political instability have destabilized and weakened the already fragile economic conditions for families in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where 60 per cent of the population lives on less than $1 per day. Vulnerable families are also affected by frequent natural disasters, such as flooding and epidemics.

Our teams have been working in the DRC since 1984. Today, we are working to contribute to the measurable and sustainable improvement of well-being for 5,311,208 children and their communities through transformational development and humanitarian relief programmes focused on: health and nutrition, education, water and sanitation, protecting children, livelihoods and resilience, food aid, psychosocial support and the reintegration of displaced people.

84.3 million

Population, total

Kinshasa

Capital City

38 billion

GDP (current US$)
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Will you hear us? 100 Children tell their stories.

Violence in the Kasai region was escalated from 2016 to 2017 and although peace has mostly returned to the region, the effects still linger. This report is based on interviews World Vision conducted with more than 100 children living in the aftermath. The stories they shared are alarming, but unfortunately, not surprising.

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Our Work

See how our programmes are improving the well-being of children in the DRC

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Education

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Health and Nutrition

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Livelihoods and Resilience

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Saved by Savings Groups

“Having enough money has always been difficult for me," says Christine, a grandmother knitting.  "Thanks to training I received, I have learned to knit and sell clothes and earn an income to support myself and my grandchildren," she says.

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Protection through Hygiene

Teachers in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been trained to teach their students to wash their hands to prevent illnesses. Schools have also been equipped so children can wash their hands. 

“At school, they teach us how to protect ourselves against the illness. They teach us to wash our hands, not touch any one and not to eat fruit fallen from trees or bush meat,” said Romiance, 12.

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Children know their Rights

It is important for children to know both their rights and how to defend themselves. Here, Magnifique, 8, explains the five most common vilations of children's rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo including: economic exploitation, child abuse, traffic accidents, early marriage, and sexual exploitation.

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Cecile attending her Saving group activity
DR Congo: Savings transform and change the lives of the most vulnerable households in Kenge AP
This article shows how Cécile, a woman who was once vulnerable, became financially autonomous and independent thanks to her membership of a savings group. World Vision is implementing the saving group approach in AP Kenge through 50 savings groups. Women and men are seeing their lives transformed thanks to this approach, which gives them access to training in managing their income and savings.
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Alphonsine after receiving her essential household items
DR Congo: Access to essential household items brings relief to displaced women
This article shows how World Vision continues to assist women and households with household kits to reinforce women's hygiene measures and ensure that their dignity is guaranteed. This assistance increase the dignity and self-esteem of women. Displaced women often have limited access to basic necessities, including personal hygiene products. By providing hygiene kits, we help restore their sense of dignity and self-esteem, allowing them to maintain personal cleanliness and feel better about themselves.
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