Cooperation Program Democratic Republic of the Congo

Background information

Due to its history as a missionary organization, Mission 21 is closely linked to the Kwango region in the southwest of the DR Congo. From 1952, missionaries from Switzerland and Germany worked in Kwango. This is how the Evangelical Mission in Kwango (EMIK) came into being. In 1958, the church was recognized by the authorities in the then Belgian Congo. The major internal political unrest in the Congo after independence also shook the Kwango region, but the work of the church continued. Today, the Evangelical Mission in Kwango (EMIK) is one of the three supporting associations of Mission 21.

The region's population lives almost exclusively from agriculture. They mainly grow manioc, soy and peanuts, but also vegetables and fruit. The province of Kwango is one of the poorest parts of the country and the world. It is not of great economic importance and is therefore neglected by the government. The villages are cut off from the world for months on end because the rain makes the poor, single-lane sandy roads impassable.

The capital Kinshasa is also included in Mission 21's current work in the DR Congo. On the one hand, Kinshasa is considered an important starting point for communication and the distribution of resources, but on the other hand, the needs there are also very great, especially in neighborhoods affected by poverty.

Where state structures are lacking and the state does not adequately fulfill its responsibility for the population, the churches take over. This is also the case in the province of Kwango and in the poverty-stricken neighborhoods of Kinshasa. For example, the partner church CEK maintains a health service, primary and secondary schools, a vocational school, a women's empowerment project and an agricultural project, thus making a significant contribution to basic services.

Program Goals

The program helps people in the rural, isolated province of Kwango, as well as in the poor districts of Kinshasa, to live a life in dignity. The project work of Mission 21 and its partner organizations focuses on health, food sovereignty and education. In addition, the partner organizations enjoy support in developing skills that are important for their work (capacity building). With Kally Maluku, there is a liaison person between the partner organizations and Mission 21, who supports measures in this area and is responsible for smooth communication.

Projects of the cooperation program

Health:

197.1817:          Basic services for the population

Food Sovereignty:

197.1813: Food sovereignty in the DR Congo

197.1808: Empowerment of women in the Kwango and in the

                          slums of Kinshasa

Education:

197.1210: Protection for the street children of Kinshasa

197.1809: Vocational school Wamba-Luadi

197.1814: Better education for children in the DR Congo

Capacity Development:

197.1811: Capacity Development