Ongoing Projects

The "Survive" Project

The "Survive Project" is a Humanitarian Relief project aiming to provide assistance to the populations affected by war in the North and South Kivu provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This project is a message we want to pass to the women deeply affected by the ongoing war that they should hold on to hope, they are not alone in these difficult times. "Please, Survive, hang in there, you are not Alone" is what we wish them to hear from all of us willing to help and encourage them.

Back ground of the project

As part of the Emergency Humanitarian Response's programs of Focus Afrika, we decided to act in the DR Congo, a conflict zone since more than three decades. In February 2025, a violent and deadly war has risen again in the North and South Kivu provinces causing severe damages. Rape, sexual violence and abuse are used as weapons of war with the UN reporting a minimum of 5 women raped each minute in the region . People are killed (around 7.000 civilians), and men are targeted especially as they are seen as potential danger to the rebels who see them as enemies who can grab guns and fight against them any time. So, they get rid of them. This makes many children become fatherless and many women become widows. War widows are suffering not only marginalization and psychological trauma but also difficulty to manage their families and to financially take care of their children as their husbands were the main breadwinners. Poverty and non access to support system is making the situation even worse. Read more....

Despite the magnitude of the issue, many survivors and widows are left without the medical care, psychological support or economic empowerment they need to rebuild their lives. Government services are inexistent as the entire region is under control of the rebels who act on behalf of the central government. The fact that the war is still going on makes it even harder for support systems to be installed. There is no help whatsoever as distress is everywhere around. Therefore, many walk alone carrying their wounds in an environment where speaking out means more danger, shame or rejection. survivors are hiding their pain, widows are crying in silence, orphans' mouths are shout, they are witnessing their dreams taken away from them, their fathers killed in front of their eyes and in some cases, they don't even know where they were buried or whether they were buried of burned with hundreds of other cadavers discovered on the streets while no one is allowed to leave their houses or to even open the door. Diseases hit, hunger hits even harder, and orphans are not able to go back to school due to financial incapacity. Mothers cannot go farming, the rebels are every where in the corners, The ones who try to go are raped. These people are trapped in a situation they didn't ask for and they don't know when it is going to end

The survivor project was born out of deep concern, compassion and commitment to restore dignity, hope and opportunity to these individuals. Initiated by Focus Afrika, the project seeks to provide immediate support, long term healing and an encouragement to survivors and widows as well as orphans who don't even understand what is happening to them that they are not alone, that there are people out there who feel their pain and who are willing to help them stand up again and overcome the situation they are in. Through the actions we will take by combining humanitarian response, education and economical empowerment, the survive Project aims to break the cycle of trauma and vulnerability and help these 130 families not only survive, but thrive.

There is a larger number of people in need of help and support. Therefore after the first round of action with the 130 families we will take another one as much as our means will allow.

Survivors of War Rape

The war in Congo is fought on women's bodies as much as it is fought with guns. It leaves behind a minimum number of 5 women, children included raped every minute.

These brave ladies after being raped, together with their children, they are abandoned by their husbands and families. So, relentlessly, they start to fight to survive each day financially, emotionally, physically and psychologically.

Some of them however, become pregnant from the rape. With the respect they hold to human life, they decide to keep the babies, which become an heavier financial, moral and psychological burden added to the ones they carry already. Hence, they need support.

War Widows

Many women saw the course of their lives changing after a sudden death of their husbands. With the surprising death of these last, they now have to take care of their children all by themselves, and during the war.

These widows are powerless both emotionally and financially and they need any help they can get from anyone, of any kind.

The majority of them have 5 children or more and taking care of them has been and still is a challenge that if left alone, their children might become our tomorrow's social problems, harder to handle.

Children Victims of War

This project will also take care of the children of the war widows and rape survivors who are financially unable to sustain their children and families.

These kids are paying a high price for the crimes they never committed. They are starving, they have no clothes, they can not go to school. Some of them had to witness their mothers raped in from of their eyes and others pulled the cadavers of their fathers from the street to not be stepped on.

It is any one's social responsibility to give them a hand in theses difficult times while they are still holding on to faith and hope. If not by responsibility, even by compassion.

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$36.000

Hunger and severe malnutrition is ravaging the regions affected by war in North and South Kivu. 90% of the families interviewed said they only have one meal a day. 30% of their children are suffering from severe malnutrition and 40% are at the verge of severe malnutrition.

Therefore, a food bank will be opened for the 130 families victims of war in the North and South Kivu.

The basic meal package will include rice, beans, cooking oil, clean water, sugar, soy powder or flour as well as a special kit for children suffering from severe malnutrition. Other items may be given according to the resources in our hands and also, based on each family's particular case.

$34.000

80% of widows and survivors of war rape are not able to pay for their kids' school fees. Hence, many of their children are not attending school properly expect from the ones attending public primary schools.

Unfortunately, public School admission is extremely competitive which makes it hard for many women with no personal connection to put their kids in.

Therefore, for a period of 6 months to one year we are going to help them with school fees and/or school appliances.

$40.000

Among the interviewed beneficiaries, more than 80% don't have stable Income activity which makes it very hard for them to sustain their children.

Therefore, the organization tends to help them start a small economic activity that will give them financial capacity to look after their children and also, ensure they are receiving basic school education.

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