Democratic Republic of Congo: Resilience In Hardship, Beauty In Conflict

We thought it was about time that we shared some interesting facts and history about the Democratic Republic of Congo, and it’s capital city of Kinshasa which is where our children reside. So grab some tea, pull out a map, and journey with us to learn about this beautiful and resilient country.

The DRC is the second largest county in Africa sharing its border with nine other countries. It gained its independence in 1960 on the 30th of June although it has experienced tremendous times of war even since. It is believed that over 200 different ethnic groups call Congo their home, and that there are 250 languages and dialects spoken throughout the country. Congo has significant arable land, immense biodiversity, and is home to the world’s second largest rainforest. It is the only place in the world where you will find the Bonobo, historically called the pygmy chimpanzee, which are an endangered great ape group.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is extremely rich in natural resources such as cobalt, copper, gold, tantalum, tungsten, tin, and industrial diamonds. While this should translate to Congo becoming an extremely wealthy country, it has instead become a target for conflict and most of its citizens have not benefited from these rich resources. In fact it has been said that the DR Congo is one of the most difficult places on earth to raise a family due to its lack of economic opportunity, political conflict, instability, and high rates of malnutrition, illness, and poor education.

The DRCongo is home to the second largest food crisis with nearly sixteen million citizens not knowing where their next meal will come from. It is also home to the largest internally displaced population in the entirety of Africa, with 5.5 million people not having a safe or consistent place to seek refuge. The mineral conflicts, health epidemics, and political unrest exaggerate already harsh living conditions. It is estimated that over twenty thousand children live on the streets of Kinshasa alone having been civil war orphans, believed to be witches and tossed on the street, or fleeing abusive families.

Kinshasa is the capital of Congo and is the third largest African city with an estimated population of over eleven million! It is the largest French speaking city, even surpassing Paris. Kinshasa has a flourishing music scene, and is famously remembered as hosting The Rumble in the Jungle boxing match between Muhammed Ali and George Foreman in 1974. Kinshasa is located on the Congo River which is the second largest river in Africa, behind the Nile, and the deepest river in the world. This lends itself to incredible hydropower potential and is believed to have the capacity to provide hydroelectric power for half of Africas entire population! Ironically throughout the DRC, less than ten percent of the population have access to electricity.

There’s honestly something about Kinshasa and the resiliency of its people that captures your heart and still holds mine strong even ten years later. My experience there was incredible and I still remember so many of the moments like it was yesterday. The streets were busy, the roads unfinished, the smells and sounds so foreign. The poverty was palpable and yet the culture so rich. I visited beautiful local markets, tasted incredible treats, and experienced a cultural heartbeat so different than what we have here in Canada. I can’t wait for the day we take our daughter back and introduce her siblings to her Congolese heritage. It is such an honour, even in the smallest of ways, to know we are making a difference in the lives of the children that remain. I hope you’ll choose to join hands with us in giving food, medical care, shelter, and hope to all the kids we can in all the ways we can. And I hope one day you’ll have the chance to let Kinshasa and the DRC capture your very soul the way it has mine.