We have been present in the country since 1973 to guarantee welcome to girls accused of witchcraft and street children, to ensure their education, health and food safety. Over the years we have operated in various sectors of intervention such as Water, Healthcare, Digital Divide and Microcredit.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has been experiencing for decades of bloody clashes that have brought the country to its knees. Although the war ended in 2007, guerrilla warfare is on the agenda in the Lake Kivu area and makes it impossible to imagine a peaceful tomorrow for everyone. In the last two years, Covid has aggravated the situation of poverty and social hardship in the country even more. For this reason, in recent years our work has mainly focused on Education and Childhood projects.

EDUCATION AND CHILDHOOD

Casa Ek’Abana has welcomed 420 girls since 2001: we take care of about 30 girls every year. We offer school support and a hot and nutritious meal a day to 1200 children a year.

• Funder: private donors
• Partner: Friends of Silvana Association, Helpcode
• Local counterpart: Caritas Diocese of Bukavu.

To find out more about Casa Ek 'Abana, visit the dedicated page.

Radio for Culture and Information, Bukavu (2020)

To contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus, from March 19, 2020, the 547 primary and secondary schools of the Archdiocese of Bukavu have been closed: 6,758 teachers have given up their jobs and their income, 237,276 pupils to education and " protection "of the school context, exposing oneself to wandering and a high risk of contagion. The Diocesan and Provincial Coordination of the Catholic Affiliated Schools of Bukavu has launched a remote awareness and training system for pupils through the radio, the only technological tool within the reach of all families (PCs or TVs are accessible to 11% of the population) , guaranteeing awareness on the containment of Covid-19 and the fundamental right to study.

• Beneficiaries: 237,276 pupils aged 6 to 20 and 64 teachers
• Results: awareness campaign aimed at families and students, to encourage attendance at courses, and sensitize families to the symptoms and international measures to contain the virus, signs affixed to 41 parishes

WATER

Source recovery in South Kivu (2002 - 2005)

• Funding: Cariplo Foundation, Lombardy Region, Municipality of Curno, Province of Cremona, private donors
• Project duration: 3 years
• Lead partner: MLFM Partner: CAB
• Beneficiaries: 80,000,
• Results: 80 rehabilitated springs with uptake

DIGITAL DIVIDE

Mbobero (2005 - 2008)

• Funded by: METID - Politecnico di Milano, STMicroelectronics Foundation
• Project duration: 3 years
• Lead partner: MLFM, Partner: Saint Paul College - Barnabite Fathers
• Beneficiaries: 20,650
• Results: promoted computer literacy and democratization among the youth population; allowed access to the Internet as a way to facilitate the process of social and information inclusion; created a micro-enterprise of IT services which guarantees employment

HEALTH

Oxygen station for the Fomulac hospital and neonatology room in Katana in South Kivu (2009 -2011)

• Funded by: ST Microelectronics Foundation, METID - Politecnico di Milano
• Project duration: 3 years
• Partner: Archdiocese of Bukavu
• Beneficiaries: 310,000
• Results: neonatology involved in the oxygen distribution system and then connected the station to the ward, upgraded the oxygen station through the purchase and installation of a 1000 liter cylinder, predisposed the neonatology department to receive oxygen, through the purchase and installation of pipes, pressure regulators, bubblers, and masks.

MICROCREDIT

Walungu (2006 - 2008)

• Funded by: Cariplo Foundation
• Project duration: 2 years
• Lead partner: MLFM, Partner: CAB
• Beneficiaries: 19,600
• Results: strengthening of food security, help to the populations who return to their villages, after years and months of traveling, to overcome the traumas suffered and regain greater autonomy and ability to produce, improving the family income for their own survival.