When worth and identity are important to everyone, and when those things are threaten, or wholly ignored, your entire perspective on life changes. ACT for Congo seeks to bring unwed vulnerable mothers into society as productive, valued people. They seek to show these women that they are made in the image of God, and also help them acquire skills and knowledge that will help them support themselves and their families and be responsible citizens and capable leaders for their society.

These young women have all been abandoned with their children to care for. Often their pregnancy was not their plan or is a result of violence. The women are blamed and marginalized, which in turn affects their children. They are most often poor, malnourished and ill-housed. Through this program, called Succeeding Together, these women are able to receive training in a trade and ultimately own their own businesses and able to better take care of their families.

This program also seeks to educate women about how to be careful and how to prevent pregnancy. They use skits, plays, songs, and poetry that are created by the women to educate others about all health issues related to pregnancy. Over the past few months, Succeeding Together has been able to accomplish some amazing things. Continue Reading »

The Evangelical Covenant Church is very active in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has a long history of activity there. Covenant World Relief serves on the eastern side of the country, a different region than where Paul Carlson Partnership, Covenant World Mission, and Covenant Kids Congo serve. In the Eastern part of the country CWR is partnering with HOLD Congo. An organization based in a local village called Goma that works to empower unmarried and abandoned mothers.

As HOLD Congo works to empower single abandoned mothers in the community of Goma the effects of this work have spread to the wider community.

As the women learn technical skills and self-worth, they are also taught about ways to make their community healthier and more just. The women are taught about common diseases and ways to prevent such diseases. Just as important, these women have been taught about their rights and about family planning options. This education will make women’s lives healthier, and also improve living conditions for family members.

•             “I’ve also learned about (the) disease of malaria. I’ve started to clean up my environment because I know where it comes from. Now I take the reeds/grass away from the house. I keep water covered and clean.” Continue Reading »

The Evangelical Covenant  Church is very active in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has a long history of activity there. Covenant World Relief serves on the eastern side of the country, a different region than where Paul Carlson Partnership, Covenant World Mission, and Covenant Kids Congo serve. In Goma, CWR is partnering with HOLD Congo.

HOLD Congo is working in the local community of Goma with unmarried and abandoned mothers. The prevalence of unmarried mothers is high in Goma because many women don’t understand their rights and their culture doesn’t protect them against rape. Girls are blamed for getting pregnant when they don’t even know how their bodies work.  Girls don’t know that they can /may say “no” and that they deserve protection.

What usually happens when a women gets pregnant without being married is that they are ostracized by the community. Many women come into the program being mistreated and/or disrespected at home by family members, within their faith communities, or in their neighborhoods: “People didn’t talk to me, but whispered about me when I walked in the neighborhood. I wasn’t able to sing in the choir at church…” Continue Reading »