Ending Extreme Poverty in the Congo

Water But You Still Have to Walk a Short Distance

2009-07-09T23:45:00-04:00

In the Congo, obtaining safe and clean water is a big and daily challenge. Most women and girls have to walk long distance to get water.

If you have a cistern, you are lucky. You do not have to walk to far to obtain your daily water needs. However, most people do not have cistern because they do not have tin roofs. If you have a tin roof and cistern, you can collect rain water.

Even if you have cistern, you still have to carry the walk into house.

It Could Not Get Worse But It Did

2009-07-08T23:20:00-04:00

A school classroom made of mud and stick walls with a thatched roof is bad. That's the standard classroom for rural Congo. How can it be any worse?

By end of the school year and after a long rainy season, it has gotten worse. Now that classroom is nearly fallen apart. The walls have lost much of the mud leaving large visible holes.

In Some Respects, Global Economic Crisis Will NOT Affect Congo

2009-07-07T23:59:00-04:00

The Congolese economic has been in downward spiral since the 1960's. Therefore, the current global economic crisis will have little if any affect on Congo.

Congo has record high unemployment levels. Small businesses employing less than 100 people is the economy of Congo. Mid-size businesses and large businesses are nonexistent. They have closed their doors years ago.

These Teachers Waited Three Years to Get Paid

2009-07-06T23:30:48-04:00

The teachers at girls school, Lycee Dinanga, are finally getting paid from the Congolese government after three years. The school is located in Bulape.

The school teachs sewing and typing along with other typical classes.

Teachers received their first payment of $40 a month.

Too Few Schools and Too Few Students

2009-07-05T23:30:00-04:00

About half of all Congolese children attend primary school. However if you visit those primary schools, you would not believe that only half of the children attend school. Why?

Most primary schools are over-crowded. Where would the other half attend schools if they could afford?

Congo has too few schools and too few students.

Going for Bicycle Walk in the Congo

2009-07-04T23:43:00-04:00

In rural Congo, bicycles are the primary mode of transportation. Bicycles are not used for riding. As a matter of fact, men push their bicycles.

Bicycles are mostly hauling goods. And because of the unpaved and unimproved roads, you can not ride a bicycles. Also, because of the overloading of these bicycles, you probably could not ride it anyway.

8 - What's the Difference Between 49 Years and 233 Years?

2009-07-04T00:08:20-04:00

One out of 13 women die during their lifetime due to pregnancy or childbirth. Access to health care is a major cause.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo observed its 49th Independence Day on June 30th, 2009. The United States celebrates its 233rd Independence Day on July 4th, 2009. That's the difference between 49 years and 233 years of independence.

7 - What's the Difference Between 49 Years and 233 Years?

2009-07-02T23:35:00-04:00

The Congo has less than 1,800 miles of paved roads. The country is the size of the United States east of the Mississippi River. And it has less than 95,000 miles of unpaved roads. Many roads end at rivers due to the lack of bridges. Travel in the Congo is a BIG challenge.

6 - What's the Difference Between 49 Years and 233 Years?

2009-07-02T13:04:30-04:00

Overall, less than half of the population of Congo have access to an improved (safe, clean) water source. But behind the numbers, only one out of four rural Congolesee have access to an improved water source. Even in the urban areas, just three out of four Congolese have access to safe and clean water.

5 - What's the Difference Between 49 Years and 233 Years?

2009-07-02T00:09:59-04:00

A child born today is expected to live to 46 years old. Since 1970, life expectancy in Congo has virtually remained the same. During the same period, it has increased in almost every country in the world.

Links for 2008-05-12 [del.icio.us]

2008-05-13T00:00:00-07:00

Firstgiving - Nate's Fundraising Page for the Congo
Nathaniel Houghton, On October 5 2008, will be running the Corning Wine Glass Marathon to fundraise for Congo Helping Hands' educational programs.

Links for 2008-03-16 [del.icio.us]

2008-03-17T00:00:00-07:00

Take Up The Challenge And Help To Fight World Poverty (from Worcester News)
Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) is an international development charity working through skilled volunteers in 34 countries mostly in Africa and Asia.

Links for 2008-03-15 [del.icio.us]

2008-03-16T00:00:00-07:00

Miriam Makeba visits rape survivors in Congo (DR)
Singer and activist Miriam Makeba says women survivors of sexual violence in the Congo face a “triple tragedy” of physical, psychological and social damage.
A first step for the global poor – shatter six myths | csmonitor.com
Today, the "average" person on the edge of survival is a child. Within the next hour, 1,200 more of them will perish. There are no easy solutions. But there is a clear path toward progress.
Wealthy nations must work to reduce poverty everywhere - Myth #6
Should wealthy nations, like the US, work to reduce poverty everywhere? NO. That's a myth we should help everybody or everywhere. Who should we help? We should be devoting our effort to the last billion poor.
In Case of Rape, Who do you blame?
A Chilean, Australian, and Canadian mining consortium of mining companies on the London stock exchange is interested in Congo's copper. Who is responsible or culpable? It's confusing to me. But maybe that's how it is suppose to be.

Links for 2008-03-14 [del.icio.us]

2008-03-15T00:00:00-07:00

UN council urges armed groups in DRC to lay down arms _English_Xinhua
The UN Security Council demanded on Thursday that armed groups and militias in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) lay down their arms.

Links for 2008-02-19 [del.icio.us]

2008-02-20T00:00:00-08:00

Violence erupts at DR Congo camp
Government soldiers and ex-rebels fighting at a camp used to integrate the former enemies.

Links for 2008-02-16 [del.icio.us]

2008-02-17T00:00:00-08:00

China to pump $9bn into DRC economy
a newly-signed partnership that could propel the African country's growth into double digits

Links for 2008-02-15 [del.icio.us]

2008-02-16T00:00:00-08:00

Come Back, Colonialism, All is Forgiven - TIME
"Even if you go 1,000 kilometers down this river, you won't see a single sign of development. When the whites left, we didn't just stay where we were. We went backwards."
China is rapidly buying up the world's resources
China is prospecting for minerals in the Congo.