Sometimes referred to as the heart of Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is immense, roughly the size of western Europe. It is also the second most populous country in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Congolese people are recovering from decades of conflict and political instability, and the country has been making steady progress toward a brighter economic future. However, the vast majority of Congolese (70%) live in poverty. Children are particularly affected and make up a substantial portion of the population.
Among those who have sought to draw greater attention to solving the problems of the Congolese is actor Ben Affleck. Affleck launched the Eastern Congo Initiative last year, the first U.S. based advocacy and grant-making initiative wholly focused on working with and for the people of eastern Congo.
"Much remains to be done to help the Congolese people secure
their region for the long term. In a defiant response to circumstances beyond
their control, the resourceful and resilient Congolese people have flourished
and begun to rebuild the foundation for effective government."
—Ben Affleck
Planet Aid has been helping the Congolese people improve conditions in their country by supporting the Child Aid community development program being implemented by Humana People to People in Congo. The program is based upon an adaptable model that changes to suit the needs of each community. The program has different focus areas, or lines, that it pursues in order to help people create sustainable development and improve the lives of future generations.