Congo – Sofia Global

DR Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a former Belgian colony in the centre of the African continent. DR Congo is a vast country with immense economic resources and, until recently, has been at the centre of what some observers call “Africa’s world war”, with widespread civilian suffering. The war claimed up to six million lives, either as a direct result of fighting or because of disease and malnutrition. It has a population of 79 million and an area 2.34 million sq km. Its major languages are French, Lingala, Kiswahili, Kikongo and Tshiluba.

CURRENT PROJECTS

DR Congo

Green Energy: ELKAP hydroelectric plant

Kapanga is a remote and landlocked part of the southern province of Katanga in DR Congo. SOFIA built a hydroelectric plant and a distribution network in partnership with the European Commission in Kapanga for a population of 50,000 beneficiaries, who had no access to any form of regular energy supply. In order to strengthen ELKAP and to ensure the longevity of this project, SOFIA has initiated an organizational development follow-up project. Its scope is to develop the structural backbone of ELKAP: revive the nonprofit entity managing the plant, strengthen the financial management and organizational structure, provide awareness-building among the stakeholders and the local population, and to strengthen the maintenance and technical capacities of the team.

DONATE

DR Congo

"Adopt a belly": Safe maternity in Congo

In Kapanga, in the Congolese savannah, giving birth is unsafe and prone to unexpected complications. There are no proper roads, there is no electricity, there are no means of transport and most of the women therefore give birth at home, thus risking their own lives and those of their children. On this backdrop, the Salvatorian Sisters, along with SOFIA, have opened and run a maternity Clinic. The clinic offers affordable access to quality maternal and pediatric health care for the women of Ntita and its surroundings. The clinic has reduced the incidence of infant mortality significantly due to the precious presence of a full-time medical surgeon capable of intervening also surgically if need be, a vaccination programme, and specialized health care for children up to the age of five. An average of eighty births take place in the clinic per month and ca. 1000 women benefit per year.

DONATE

DR Congo

Technical Secondary School in the Bel-Air district of Lubumbashi

The present project is the continuation of an effort to provide education in accordance with local needs in the municipality of Kampemba in the city of Lubumbashi. Based on a detailed needs assessment, the Salvatorians built a technical school in Wokovu – specialized in computer sciences and electronics– and an auditorium for extracurricular activities and the organization of events. The first phase of the project is completed. The present project concerns the second and third phase, more specifically, the construction of and the equipment for: 1) one building with five classrooms; 2) the administration block, which includes also a library and a computer laboratory; 3) the auditorium of the school complex.

DONATE

DR Congo

Salvatorian University- Kolwezi

Affordable and quality education is a dream of many, especially in the DR Congo with its place on the education index at 140/180, according to a UN report of 2016. SOFIA wishes to establish a full-fledged university in Kolwezi, which would be a dream come true for many students in Congo. The vision for this university is one of being efficient, transparent and academically excellent whilst instilling Christian virtues and integrity in its students as well as contributing to a research-active scientific community in Congo. It is with such a holistic approach that the Salvatorians hope to empower the young generations of Congo into becoming drivers of socio-economic transformation.

DONATE

DR Congo

Mother Teresa health care Centre for Sickle-Cell Disease (SCD)

Sickle-Cell Disease (SCD) is a genetic, life-long blood disorder. The prevalence of SCD is highest in regions where malaria is endemic. Of the people affected who do not receive medical treatment, 50% die within less than five years. Survivors suffer multiple organ failures, which inevitably shortens their life span. The majority of SCD patients are children below the age of five. The social stigma associated with the disease is very high and contributes to the vicious cycle of poverty and exclusion of patients. In the D.R.Congo, infrastructure for diagnosis and treatment of SCD are scarce to non-existent. Therefore, SOFIA ventured to support the establishment of a SCD centre in Lubumbashi. The health centre provides systematic screenings and services for free or at a reduced price for people who cannot afford to pay. On average, it treats 350 patients with sickle cell disease per year.

DONATE