If you've read the news about what's happening in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), you're probably saddened by the situation for people there, and you may want to help—Roots & Shoots can show you how.

Seized from native Africans by Belgian King Leopold II in 1908 as his personal property, the Congo was ruled as a colony of Belgium until it gained its independence in 1960. Since then, the DRC has had many conflicts over who will rule the country and how they will do it. Currently, Joseph Kabila is president, but rebel forces are causing conflict in certain regions. Over the years, the violent fighting between the government and rebel forces has resulted in thousands of Congolese fleeing or being forced from their homes. These Congolese refugees seek food, water and safety in refugee camps not only in the DRC, but also in camps across Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania.

This area of East Africa is near Gombe National Park, where Dr. Jane did her historic study of chimpanzees—and where the Jane Goodall Institute and Roots & Shoots still do work today. In fact, there are thousands of Roots & Shoots members doing projects at Lugufu Refugee Camp in Western Tanzania, where many Congolese people have come for safety.

Through Roots & Shoots, the young people at Lugufu receive lessons in peace education and conflict resolution. For example, John Shabani—who came to Tanzania from the DRC as a refugee and is now group leader of Friends of Nature (FON) Roots & Shoots in the DRC and the Jane Goodall Volunteers’ Club (CVJ) R&S group in Burundi—helps to make this education happen at Lugufu. Alongside Roots & Shoots-Tanzania staff and volunteers, he has been working on the Cross Border Initiative, which seeks to unite young people from Tanzania, Burundi and the DRC, promoting understanding, tolerance and hope for a peaceful future.

DO YOU WANT TO HELP
Congolese refugees in Tanzania and your fellow Roots & Shoots members at Lugufu Refugee Camp? You could make an individual donation or raise funds with your Roots & Shoots group to contribute to building peace in the DRC.

Please, make checks payable to "the Jane Goodall Institute" and send your contribution to:

ATTN: Megan Nelson
Roots & Shoots at Lugufu Refugee Camp
c/o the Jane Goodall Institute-USA
4245 N. Fairfax Dr., Ste. 600
Arlington, VA 22203
USA

Thirsty for knowledge? Learn about more JGI programs in the DRC.