NHRC, New Hope Reconciliation Center, is the official name of our partner Congo-based team’s operations.  Over the next 5 years we plan to build a centrally located compound with the basic infrastructure needed to bring people and tribes together to meet, to engage in educational and economic activities, and to live life together.  Construction of the Community Center has been underway since May primarily using locally sourced material and labor. Future phases include classrooms, offices, dorms, a guesthouse, and potentially a soccer field, playground equipment, and a market.

 

The South Kivu area of Eastern Congo consists primarily of lightly populated subsistence farming communities with a few small businesses providing basic necessities. Transportation networks consist of un-managed, gravel roads that are difficult and expensive to travel.  Government presence in the area is light and basic infrastructure is lacking. This lack of infrastructure and places to congregate is a primary driver of our construction program.  With no community gathering places to meet or places for visitors to stay or classrooms for students, separate tribes do not intermingle or develop relationships perpetuating unnecessary conflict.

 

Phase one of construction to build the Main Hall and “Sanitary” requires $134,000 and is expected be completed by the end of the year. Once complete, community gatherings can be conducted during the rainy season and reconciliation training can begin. The total cost of the full compound construction will be between $525,000 and $650,000 and continue to provide much needed local jobs. The construction work currently employs 94 Congolese which is comprised of members of the five tribes we support. 

Please join our prayers that donations will sustain these programs and be able to extend them to 14 other villages and 2,000 more children with Kwashiorkor. We pray that God extend his healing and peace to all in East Congo.