RDC 01 - RIGHT TO RESIST
Project Location
The project will be implemented in the city of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Africa, with an area of 9,965 km2. With an estimated population of over 17 million in its metropolitan area in 2021, it is the third largest urban area in Africa after Cairo and Lagos, and is one of the most populous cities in the world. The economic, political and cultural heart of the country, Kinshasa is a city of contrasts, where high-end residential and commercial sectors, universities, military camps and slums coexist.
It is a transport hub for Central Africa and is home to the country's main institutional buildings, such as the People's Palace, the Martyrs' Stadium and the Palace of the Nation. It is a cosmopolitan city, which welcomes many foreigners, and where Lingala, Kikongo, Swahili and Tshiluba are the main languages of the inhabitants along with French, which is the official language.
It is undoubtedly recognized almost everywhere that the Democratic Republic of Congo is going through a difficult and delicate situation in its history. A potentially rich country, where almost 80 million of its inhabitants live in deplorable poverty ($ 1.25 per day per person). Endless wars and devastating diseases weigh heavily on the population, on the families who do not arrive and cannot raise their heads, to get up and become autonomous with the work of their own hands.
By carrying out a social analysis to identify some problems to awaken a conscience to the people, especially in the capital of Kinshasa, some problems have been identified, more urgent. Corruption, Trafficking, Environment. The consequences of these problems are fear, poverty and diseases.
The causes are due to a lack of civic, moral and spiritual education. People live day by day, there are no public structures that can help people; there is no work and they try to do small businesses. But the majority of women, girls and even children are offered easy work to earn money and especially abroad, where they fall into the traps of sexual exploitation and other types of trafficking. This phenomenon is very current and unfortunately unknown. Corruption is the order of the day, in all environments. They only try to earn money but not for people but for themselves. Everyone thinks of themselves.
Caring for the environment requires urgent training. It is another lifestyle that is seen in cities, different from villages. In the city of Kinshasa, almost no one is educated to respect the environment. You find garbage and plastic everywhere. There is a lot of smog and health is greatly affected.
To survive, many young people steal or get involved in drugs, dealing and organ trafficking. Violence has increased, tolerance is no longer a value that inhabits the Congolese citizen.
Project description
The description of the city of Kinshasa helps us understand the urgency and the need to raise awareness among the people on matters concerning civic education, human rights and also ecological training. The ultimate goal of this project is to bring about a change in mentality and to start a series of practical activities.
Various training sessions will therefore be held regarding civic education and human rights and ecology/environment in schools, religious institutes and among the various Catholic associations. Workshops are also planned for the various bodies mentioned, and concrete activities regarding the environment, which will be designed in the measure of the response that will be received from the recipients themselves.
It is hoped that the project will bring about a change in mentality that will make the population recognize their responsibility in the face of poverty and mismanagement in the country. A responsibility that must necessarily lead to social change, recognizing the spiritual dimension as important for life choices.
Objective
- Start a process of changing mentality and awareness of people's human rights and the urgency of caring for the environment.
Beneficiaries
Direct: 200 parish groups and 14 religious institutes
Indirect: students, civil society
Referent sister of the project: sr Loredana Dalla Libera
Project's costs