Recently, In the DRC, Washington, D.C. and Oregon...

As you all know, the conflict in the DRC has been ongoing for years. Three weeks ago, the Rebel Group in Congo, M23, invaded Goma and forced out the Congolese army. During the invasion, 130,000 people were evacuated and displaced into make shift shelters around Goma, and countless women and children have suffered from acts of sexual violence. Despite the withdrawal of M23 on December 1^st, the effects of the invasion are still ongoing.

CARE, one of our partners in the Students Rebuild Challenge, has staff working on the ground in these makeshift camps. The bravery of the Congolese people is evident and can be seen in the pictures below:

Sabine Wilke/CARESabine Wilke/CARE

Sabine Wilke/ CARE

The Rebel Group, M23’s invasion has brought the DRC back into the media spotlight once again and the need for collective and effective emergency relief efforts is evident. Yesterday, Congress held a hearing about Eastern Congo where experts like John Prendergast (Co-founder of the Enough! Project), The Honorable Johnnie Carson (U.S. Ambassador and Assistant Secretary, the Bureau of African American Affairs at the State Department), Steve Hege (Former member of the United Nations Group of Experts on the DRC) and Mvemba Dizolele (Stanford University), urged President Obama to take a tougher stance against Rwanda for supporting the M23 Rebels. You can also express your concern about the DRC to our leaders; call Ambassador Rice and tell her that the Congo needs our help, like Gavin did. Gavin is our Oregon Coordinator, Alysha Atma’s son, who called Ambassador Rice last night after the hearing and urged her to protect his brothers and sisters in the Congo. If Gavin can do it, we can all do it. 

Make a bone today in honor of Gavin’s courage, the bravery of the Congolese people, the compassion and strength of CARE’s field staff and stand together with us for Peace in Congo and all over the world.