Introduction to Congo

Before I get started, I want to give you a quick update. We received a bit of good news: we don't have to re- do our physical exams. Yay! That will save us some time and money. We now have all the documents we need to complete our dossier. Every document is notarized and scanned into our computer. (It would be a very bad time for a house fire.) Everything has been e-mailed to our dossier coordinator for a final reviw before we send it out to be state certified.

 

I would like to share some information with you about the Democratic Republic of Congo. I know I didn't even know where it was on a map before we started looking into adopting from there. The DRC is the second largest country in Africa (by area) and has 71 million people, making it the 19th most populous country in the world. It has a tropical climate and the highest frequency of thunderstorms on the planet.  From 1908-1960, Congo was ruled by the Belgian government, making French one of its official languages. Congo has abundant natural resources (cobalt ore, copper, diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, etc.) but, sadly, little of that benefits the people living there.

The Second Congo War (1998- 2003) devastated the country. It is the world's deadliest conflict since WWII, killing 5.4 million people. Rebel armies continue to spread violence across the country. It is estimated that 1,500 people die per day because of the conflicts. The rebel armies forcibly take children to turn them into soldiers and sex slaves.

Congo is considered the worst place in the world to be a woman. It is known as the "rape capital of the world". The prevalence and intensity of sexual violence in Congo is unmatched anywhere else.

This country suffers from widespread malnutrition, disease and poverty:

- In 2012, the DRC was rated as the poorest country in the world.
-Only 46% of the population has access to clean water and 75% of the population are severely undernourished.
-The life expectancy is only 48 years.
-Over 1 million people are infected with HIV.
-Malaria kills 400 children a day.
-One in seven children die before reaching the age of five.
-THERE ARE OVER 5 MILLION ORPHANS IN THE DRC.

I know there are people who have issues with international adoption. They feel that adoptive parents are stealing children from their birth country and heritage. I realize the importance of culture and racial identity, but more important is the child's right to LIVE. To live a life with access to food, water, medical care and education. To a life with the love and support of a family. To a life with a future.