Programs in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Democratic Republic of Congo Selected Statistics

• Infant mortality: 71.4 deaths/1,000 live births
• Physician density: 0.11 physicians/1,000 population
• Major infectious diseases: hepatitis A, typhoid fever, malaria, dengue fever, African sleeping sickness, food & water-bourne diseases
• 23% of children under the age of 5 are underweight
• 63% of the total population can read and write
• 63% of the population is below the poverty line

ChildCARE Plus in the DRC

ERDO works alongside PAOC Global Workers, Marielle & Pierre Paradis to run ChildCARE Plus programs in southern Congo.  This CCP program assists over 200 children.  A smaller CCP program also operates in Eastern Congo helping children in the city of Bukavu with our partner CEPAC-Bethsaida, under the direction of Rev. Raha Muzibao. 

One of the poorest countries in the world, many children in the DRC are stuck in a cycle of chronic poverty and ongoing civil conflict.  ChildCARE Plus child sponsorship enables children to receive the love and practical care that helps alleviate poverty and give them hope for a brighter future.

To sponsor a child in the Congo, or another country in need, please click here>>

Prior Assistance in Congo

Crisis Response in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Working through CEPAC, ERDO delivered medical equipment and clothing to needy communities in Bukavu between 2007 and 2010.  This equipment was distributed by our partners in the Congo to assist those in need. 

ERDO no longer ships items through containers, preferring to access local markets helping to improve the local economic conditions.

In times of emergency, relief supplies can include things like:

• locally accessed and appropriate food relief
• child safety
• water
• shelter
• sanitation
• household needs
• livelihood protection

To donate to ERDO's crisis response fund, and equip us to quickly respond during times of emergency, please click here>>

To learn more about Crisis Response please click here >>

Community Development

Working alongside communities, ERDO identifies programs that benefit the community as a whole.  In Eastern Congo, ERDO implemented a microfinance program called "Wezesha".  The Wezesha Project provided small loans starting at $50 USD, to women and enabled them to expand their businesses. This project empowered women to better provide for their own families. 

The Wezesha Project is still running in Burundi.

To make a donation to the Wezesha program in the Burundi, click here >>

To find out more about ERDO's Wezesha microfinance program, click here>>

Food Assistance

In cooperation with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and our partner, CEPAC, ERDO is implementing ongoing agricultural based Food Security programs.  Currently 320 families representing over 20,000 individuals are benefitting from this program which is enabling them to grow better and more sustainable crops. 

Food assistance programs are critical as they lead people out of poverty and into self sustainability.

Click here to contribute to this food assistance program in the DRC