THE BACKGROUND IN THE COUNTRY

According to the International Rescue Committee, 3.8 million Congolese were killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a result of the civil war between 1998 and the beginning of 2005. As a result of this massive unrest, the country's administration and infrastructure have almost completely collapsed, and the cultivated areas have been largely devastated and looted.

Natural resources are also more of a curse than a blessing, as the interest in them from both national and international players hinders the effective development of the domestic economy. This is why the Democratic Republic of Congo remains one of the poorest countries in the world.

This also applies to the Bokungu-Ikela province, located in the northern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Illiteracy is high, significantly higher among women at 33.5% compared to 11.5% among men (2016 survey). Due to the lack of infrastructure, people can barely support themselves, forcing them to migrate. They end up in the country's major cities, where, however, there is also a lack of jobs and social support. This is where the desire to flee to Europe and build a new life there arises. This is where our projects come into play.