Democratic Republic of the Congo

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Democratic Republic of the Congo: Defending Childhood in the Heart of Crisis

Explore the DRC:

The DRC is more than conflict and minerals, it is children rebuilding trust, voice, and learning in places shaped by danger and loss. From Goma to Ituri, their voices reach beyond fear, and we are here to honor them and invite America to stand beside them.

The Situation for Children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The DRC is a country of vast potential, rich land, and deep suffering. Armed conflict, poverty, and weak institutions have left millions of children at risk of exploitation, violence, and neglect. These are the three most urgent challenges they face:

Armed Conflict and Massive Displacement

Armed groups continue to terrorize communities in the eastern DRC, displacing over 7 million people — nearly half of them children. Many live in camps with no access to clean water, education, or protection.

Child Recruitment and Gender-Based Violence

Children are abducted, recruited as soldiers, or exploited in militias and mining operations. Girls face widespread sexual violence, both during conflict and in camps, often with little access to justice or support.

Lack of Access to Education and Trauma Recovery

Years of war have decimated schools and traumatized children. More than 3 million school-age children are out of school, and mental health services are almost nonexistent, especially in rural areas.

Despite these challenges, the DRC’s children remain full of hope, dreaming of education, health, and opportunities for a better tomorrow.

Key Contributor #1: Children’s Voice

Restoring Safety, Education, and Voice to War-Affected Children

In Goma and nearby communities, Children’s Voice receives children who have survived violence, displacement, and exploitation, then surrounds them with safety, schooling, and care. Shelters provide rest and protection; counselors guide recovery through steady conversations, art, and play that eases the weight of memory. Accelerated classes rebuild learning; creative sessions teach expression without shame; caseworkers watch progress closely and adjust support. Staff advocate in courts and with authorities so rights are defended and harm is not repeated. Families are prepared for reunification with patience and practical tools; community education softens stigma so children can belong again. The work is disciplined and tender, grounded in the belief that identity can be restored. In this care, a child finds voice, a desk, a future that feels reachable.

Key Contributor #2: La Dynamique des Femmes Juristes (DFJ)

Protecting Girls From Violence and Supporting Survivors

Protecting Girls From Violence and Supporting Survivors
DFJ stands with girls who have endured assault and coercion, offering legal aid, shelter, and counseling delivered by an all female team that understands both fear and strength. Lawyers file cases and teach rights; social workers offer quiet rooms where emotions can settle; teachers help survivors return to school with courage. Community sessions invite men and leaders to change behavior; police trainings improve response and respect for the law. Emergency support meets immediate needs; long term follow up keeps healing from stalling. In villages where silence once hid harm, DFJ makes truth visible and justice plausible. The result is not only protection for individuals, it is a shift in what a community will tolerate. Girls begin to walk with heads high; the future opens a little wider.

Key Event #1: Safe Classrooms Campaign – Ituri Province

Rebuilding Schools and Rebuilding Trust in Education

In Ituri, teachers and volunteers reclaimed schools scarred by fighting, sweeping floors, fixing doors, and hanging new boards where walls once stood. Training in trauma aware practice helped classrooms feel safe; routines returned: greetings, lessons, quiet reading, songs that soften tense shoulders. On the first morning, hundreds came barefoot and eager; by week’s end, children who had stayed away stepped inside. Families helped repair benches and fetch water; leaders promised to protect the grounds. The campaign signaled that education belongs to everyone, even when conflict tries to claim it. As chalk met board, trust grew; as trust grew, attendance held. A small transformation took root: school felt like a place to heal and to dream again.

Key Event #2: Healing Arts Festival – Goma

Helping Children Express Trauma and Celebrate Survival

In 2024, Children’s Voice gathered youth for three days of workshops and performances that turned pain into movement, color, and sound. Painting sessions offered calm and focus; dance classes released fear from tired bodies; writing circles gave language to experience and hope. Public performances honored courage; applause reminded children they were seen for more than their scars. Counselors stayed close to guide reflection; teachers helped translate new confidence back into daily school life. Families watched with pride that felt like relief. The festival became a symbol of what healing can look like in community: creative, careful, joyful. It taught a lesson that lasts beyond the stage: voice returns, and with it, the power to shape tomorrow.

Top Grassroot Nonprofits Across the DRC

Meet the five grassroot organizations seeking to make extraordinary strides in improving the lives of the DRC’s children — one community at a time.

To get started, click on the image to visit the donation page, or click on the nonprofit’s name to access their homepage.

After donating on a partner site, click the purple globe icon to register your contribution in our data tables.

Remember, your support, whether it’s visiting their homepage, donating, or following their social media, will be crucial towards helping these nonprofits grow and amplify their efforts.