Intro to the Congo

So in a little over one week I'm going to be headed off to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)  where is that you say??  No worries I had to find a map as well to see exactly where it is. 

 

More specifically I will be primarily in the capital Kinshasa indicated by the star.  Kinshasa is the capital city located on the banks of the Congo River. The largest river in Africa, comparably size and river basinwise to the Amazon river in South America. We also will be traveling to Kikwit a town about 500km away from Kinshasa

 

 

The DRC is a country with a complex history of patterns of ruler corruption, colonialism, exploitation of people and resources.  This history has tainted the present and the people of the  DRC are struggling to hold  the country together and provide a future for themselves.  The DRC is the poorest country in the world ranking 184th out of 184 countries in the world for their Gross Purchasing Power. This amazed me because when I think poor I tend to think of Haiti or Sudan which are 164/144 respectively but to be last place with a GPP of $389 is unimaginable,  especially when compared to Canada which sits 11th at $43,593  (Global Finance Mag, 2013).  Where as we often can have a "money isn't everything attitude" in realistically money is important as  it provides infrastructure, healthcare, systems and to some extent stability.  

The DRC, especially in the east is resource rich - gold, copper, diamonds and cobalt and the source of much of the conflict as different rebel groups fight back and forth for this vast wealth  All claiming a cause of liberation and freedom they rape and pillage the land driving civilians from their homes.  Doctors without Boarders has a large presence in the eastern part of the country providing primary health care to those in displaced persons camps as well as trauma care to the victims of violence.  Although where we will be in Kinshasa is miles away from this fighting it has an impact on the entire country as the ripple effect of displaced persons, lack of transportation, lack of health care and education effects all.

 

In Kinshasa we are going to be privileged to be working with and learning from the staff and leaders of the Bon Berger Clinic in Kinshasa. Definitely  Click here to read more about the clinic and its mission.  The clinic is in the Camp Luka district of Kinshasa, a poor underdeveloped portion of the city.  I am so excited to go and learn from the staff and leaders at the clinic, to hear and capture their vision for their work and to support them in anyway that I can.   

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