A Rocha DR Congo is a new addition to the A Rocha Worldwide Family and the 25th A Rocha Organisation. The Democratic Republic of Congo is known for its extraordinary biodiversity and, sadly, for a long shadow cast by conflict and a recent outbreak of Ebola.
A Rocha DR Congo began as TRAFFED, a national Christian NGO, back in 2003 in Bukavu, South Kivu. They have been working in biodiversity conservation, creation care education, church engagement, emergency relief assistance, community development aimed at women and people from ethnic minorities, gender equality, climate justice, economic empowerment (including goat rearing and bee keeping) and human rights.
Their current focus is South Kivu and other provinces in the east of the country, a region of exceptional global biodiversity importance. Here, their work includes:
· creating community forests of up to 50,000 hectares in Mont Kabobo Reserve.
· leading the establishment of a 200,000 hectare community conservation area in the Itombwe region, engaging pastors from 35 churches in conservation, especially around Grauer’s gorilla.
· working with pastors to combat deforestation and promote sustainable agriculture in Kahuzi-Biega National Park.
· advocating for sustainable fisheries and resisting harmful oil exploitation in Ituri province, and fostering collaboration between Congolese and Ugandan fishermen.
· promoting women’s eco-entrepreneurship and environmental training for women’s groups in South Kivu.
One of their more notable achievements is establishing the Higher Institute of Ecology for Conservation of Nature, which includes a pioneering department of environmental theology and human ecology. At the heart of all they do is a deep commitment to faith, with biblical teaching integrated into conservation, churches equipped as agents of hope, and collaboration across evangelical and ecumenical lines.
The A Rocha DR Congo team are working in difficult and challenging circumstances – please pray for them.
