DRC

They’ve done it! Our Amplifying Voices triathlon team in the UK is grateful for the very generous donations to support the valuable peace building work of Umoja FM in North Kivu.

During a recent visit to North Kivu, communities told us how Umoja FM has been a lifeline for them during war and crises, while the team prepares for the next phase of the project.

Writing en route to our first visit in 5 years to Umoja FM in Nobili DRC, Jon & Johnny look ahead, while reflecting on this resilient station’s role through recent crises.

Can you really forgive people who have committed terrible acts of violence? A learning review from the DRC, shows how Umoja FM has become a trusted friend in a time of conflict…

As news filtered through of yet another so-called ‘rebel attack’ against a village in the DR Congo’s North Kivu province, the prospects of extending our Umoja FM project began to dwindle.  And yet the need is urgent.

Umoja FM, HCR’s partner station in Nobili, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is supporting communities fleeing attacks by Islamist rebels. “Our team are doing all we can to provide essential information to displaced people as well as support to the wider population,” said Station Manager Baraka Bacweki.

Children in their thousands are suffering significant abuse and stigmatisation, or even being killed, due to accusations of witchcraft against them. There are tens of thousands of cases, in many nations worldwide.

‘I’m not a witch’ is a powerful, new short film produced by Congolese film maker, Tshoper Kabambi, designed to promote awareness of the problem.

Day 14 of #16DaysofActivism Any form of abuse leaves scars. A few years ago I participated in some focus group meetings with street living children, aged from 6 years to 16 years, to explore starting a radio project for Feba UK for these children in Kinshasa, DR Congo. It was particularly difficult to get street living girls to participate but we where able to include a small group of teenage girls. I…

Day 9 of #16DaysofActivism I photographed the billboard above recently in a remote village in North Kivu in the DRC. It depicts two men molesting a woman with the words: “You wouldn’t do this if it was your mother, would you!” It is a stark reminder of the widespread use of rape and other forms…

In eastern DR Congo’s conflicted province of North Kivu, HCR has been working with partners to establish a new community radio station, Umoja (Unity) FM.  One of the architects of the project is Member of Parliament Albert Baliesima Kadukima who has great hopes for this station….