CARE in the Democratic Republic of Congo

CARE re-established its presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in January 2002, after a four-year absence. Before 1998, CARE’s programmes in the DRC worked primarily with Rwandan refugees.

In the DRC we:

improve access to quality education
provide access to clean water and sanitation
help child soldiers who have returned to their home communities
provide food and shelter

CARE runs its emergency relief efforts and development projects in the DRC from its headquarters in the capital city, Kinshasa. CARE is also involved in a nationwide programme aiming to promote peace by strengthening community organisations and faith-based groups.

CARE in action:

Conflict
We focus on helping people affected by the long-standing conflict in the DRC. More than four million people have lost their lives in the conflict, many due to disease and malnutrition, and 1.8 million people have been forced to flee their homes, according to United Nations reports. CARE has a long-term commitment to providing emergency relief to people affected by conflict and is working on reconstruction and development throughout the DRC.

Child Soldiers
Thousands of children have been abducted and forced to serve as child soldiers. Even those child soldiers who have been able to return to their home communities have been deeply traumatised by their experiences, and may have trouble adjusting to their new lives. We are helping child soldiers to return to their families and communities and ensure that they are able to readjust to civilian life.