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Home >> Where We Build >> Africa & Middle East >> Democratic Republic of Congo*
Democratic Republic of Congo -- Habitat for Humanity Int'l 1

Democratic Republic of Congo

This program is currently inactive.
As a result of political instability, the program was suspended in August 2007, and there are no plans to continue building houses in Democratic Republic of Congo in the foreseeable future.


How Habitat helped
Habitat for Humanity began its first overseas work in Democratic Republic of Congo following a pilot project in the city of Mbandaka, often working in the remote villages of the country’s vast equatorial rain forest.

Example of a Habitat house in Democratic Republic of Congo.


Years of war took a devastating toll on communities in the Equator Province, the birthplace of Habitat DRC. In the midst of the ongoing war, construction of homes in the country halted. However, home building again resumed in all eight of the affiliates following a ceasefire agreement, and in the wake of devastation, stories of hope emerged.

Highlights

  • Habitat DRC built over 3,000 houses with low-income Congolese families.
  • In 2003, Habitat for Humanity staff, volunteer workers and local committee members resurrected the Mbandaka project. Working with local authorities, they began constructing new homes by means of a revolving fund.


Facts about Democratic Republic of Congo
Location: Central Africa
Population: 56 million
Languages: French, Lingala, Swahili, Kikongo and Tshiluba
Climate: Tropical, hot and humid
Religions: Christianity, Islam and indigenous beliefs
Government: Transitional government
Economy: Main exports are diamonds, copper, coffee, cobalt and crude oil