Following the first free elections in 46 years, Joseph Kabila was sworn in as President of the Democratic Republic of Congo on 6th December 2006. With the elections passing relatively peacefully, it is hoped that this will mark the beginning of a new era for a country ravaged by the bloodiest conflict since World War II.
President Kabila faces a daunting task. Around four million people were killed during the six year conflict and the infrastructure was completely destroyed. Now people are finally returning to their villages to find them devastated. With most of the schools destroyed, a generation of Congolese children is facing a future without any education.
Education is every child's right. It helps bring peace, opportunity, hope and normalcy back into children's lives.
This is why War Child Canada is busy constructing and rehabilitating schools destroyed during the war. From providing bricks and mortar, to desks, blackboards and teacher training, this project is making a tangible difference to children's lives, every single day.
All of this costs money, of course, but not as much as you might expect. $30,000 will rebuild an entire school and help thousands of children receive the education they are entitled to for generations to come. That is our target this holiday season - to rebuild at least one school in the Congo with your help, and hopefully many more.