Who are the people?
The Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly known as Zaire, is made up of more than 200 ethnic groups. The country’s official language is French, but 80 percent of the population speaks at least one of many other ethnic languages.

More than 70 percent of the population lives in rural areas. Many Congolese laborers work on farms, producing cassava, corn, bananas, rice, coffee, tea, palm oil, rubber, and cotton. These crops are used for both subsistence and export. World Vision is working alongside many farmers to teach them new agricultural techniques that will increase harvests and help them better provide for their children.

Forty-eight percent of Congolese children have no access to schools or education of any sort. Many of them work on farms, or anywhere else they can find work to help generate an income for their families. Some children have been kidnapped and enslaved by rebel soldiers fighting in civil war skirmishes throughout the country. Through child sponsorship, World Vision is working to provide clothing and school supplies that will enable more boys and girls to attend school and complete their education.

Nearly 2 million children lack proper nutrition and three-fourths of Congolese people are undernourished, struggling to survive on an inadequate food supply.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly known as Zaire, is made up of more than 200 ethnic group

Country Comparison	Democratic Republic of Congo	United States
Population	55.8 million	295.4 million
Land Mass	875,525 sq. miles	3,537,439 sq. miles
Life Expectancy	44 years	78 years
Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000)	129	7
Literacy Rate	65%	97%
Primary School Enrollment	52%	92%
Access to Safe Water	46%	100%
Average Annual Income (GNI per capita)	$120	$41,400

Religion

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What is it like to live there?
The Congolese people enjoy beautiful landscapes consisting of mountain ranges with volcanoes, lush tropical forests, rivers, and hundreds of lakes. With all these natural resources, the country could be one of the richest countries in southern Africa. However, due to government instability, the economy has suffered drastic decline since the mid-1980s.

The nation has a history of conflict and strife. In the late 19th century, King Leopold I of Belgium established the first colony in the region, calling it The Congo Free State. This name was changed to The Belgian Congo in 1908, and then again to The Republic of the Congo after the country gained independence in 1960. It became known as Zaire when a dictator, Mobutu Sese Seko, assumed control in 1971. Upon his defeat by rebels in 1997 the country’s official name became The Democratic Republic of Congo. Rebel forces still occupy parts of the country today.

For the last several years the population of the DRC has fluctuated due to political conflicts and ethnic cleansing in neighboring countries.

Your sponsorship is helping to ensure that children and families have access to food production assistance, medical care, clean water, and education, as well as biblically-based HIV prevention techniques and care and support for children orphaned or made vulnerable by AIDS.
The Congolese people enjoy beautiful landscapes consisting of mountain ranges with volcanoes, lush
Democratic Republic of Congo Projects
With the support of generous donors like you, World Vision is partnering with families throughout Democratic Republic of Congo to build brighter futures filled with hope for their children.

Many activities are under way to help meet immediate needs and promote lasting changes that will strengthen communities and move families toward self-reliance.

Overall program goals include:

• Equipping families and communities to care for orphans and vulnerable children while providing life-skills training to those affected by the AIDS pandemic.
• Helping farmers increase their yield by providing training in agricultural and animal husbandry techniques.
• Ensuring that sponsored children receive basic health care and immunizations against common childhood diseases.
• Providing children with school supplies, learning materials, and tuition fees needed to attend class, and organizing workshops that equip teachers to support their students’ success.
• Offering vocational and technical training to help parents better provide for their families.
• Partnering with local churches to develop Christian leadership courses and strengthen outreach ministries.

Democratic Republic of Congo is participating in our "HopeChild" program to provide additional resources for children and families impacted by HIV/AIDS in this high prevalence region.

Please click here to request a HopeChild from Democratic Republic of Congo.