DRC's 2nd Elections: Testing Democracy

 Pressure is on, tensions are high.. Democratic Republic of Congo's second elections since its traumatic civil war officially ended in 2003, began yesterday and have extended into today.  Eleven candidates are running in this year's Presidential elections, only the second election to be held since the war officially ended (to learn more about Congo's 1st and 2nd wars, second of which is known as The Great War of Africa, click here).  Incumbent President Joseph Kabila is widely expected to win another term because of the splintered opposition.  Etienne Tshisekedi is the leading opponent, at age 78, whose party has already claimed that these elections will not be fair due to logistical infrastructure nightmeres (how can ballot materials be delivered to some regions in time via long stretches of dirt roads, many undriveable, in a country one quarter the size of the U.S.?  They weren't.)  Also, some parts of South Kivu are reported to be inaccessable by election officials becauase it's just too dangerous.  This is perhaps the most profoundly affected region of the Congo, and they might not get their chance to be heard?

Logistical problems on Monday lead to keeping the polls open today.  Let's hope that the protests, reports of violence as well as tampered ballot papers don't escalate once the polls are closed and results come in (and people like Ben Affleck and Cindy McCain start counting the votes!?!).  How much really is at stake this (or any) election?  Do we put too much faith in the election process, and not enough attention on what happens in between elections?  What little progress has been made needs to continue and the focus will have to shift from this election as an 'event' to its outcome and results of the next leadership.  Whoever wins will face the same challenges, and the international community will hopefully keep a close eye on things, holding these elected officals accountable for their actions.

A few facts about these elections:

• More than 30 million registed voters (of ~70 million population)
• Results to be announced Dec. 6
• 11 Presidential candidates + 18,000 Parliamentary candidates (for 500 seats)
• 62,500 poll stations / 180,000 ballot boxes / 64 million ballot papers
• UN ran last elections and now current government is in charge this time
• No runoff allowed in this election

Still here..still working towards a better future..

We're still here, and still hoping for a better future for everyone in DRC, and our focus is still on trying to improve the lives of some of the young women and men in or near the village of Amadi by continuing their education. It has been slow going, but Georges and I are still in contact (via email) and he has not stopped doing everything he can during his studies and work in Italy, to move forward with this initiative.

George recently returned from 2 months in DR Congo, to visit his family in Dungu as well as Amadi where he saw firsthand a part of the impact he has had: Jeanette, pictured below with Georges, has completed her studies in Nursing!  Congratulations to Jeannette!

Jeannette and Georges in/near Amadi

Some of the other women in the village who now have young children of their own (they did not last time Georges visited), so there is still so much work to be done.

Please consider sponsoring an orphaned student (form a group and split the costs!)  Schools are starting now/mid-November, so please contact one of us ASAP if interested.  Your group will have direct contact with the sponsored student.  Costs involved:

• Secondary school:  60 euros every 4 months
• University:  135 euros every 4 months
  

Some other news highlights and info from 2010 up to now (as I get more info on these points I will elaborate):

• Travel was arranged for Jeanine Dasungu to pursue her academic studies in the nearest city.
  
• Land purchased in hopes of building a center for young mothers (like Jeannette, above) to alleviate living costs so they can continue their studies and still care for their children.
  
• Brick production began in Isiro for above mentioned building center (reception area plus temporary housing).  To keep costs as low as possible, a casting mold was purchased to produce the bricks themselves.
  
• While three previous students (Charly, Francoise, and Judoc) have unfortunately stopped their studies for various reasons, Massambra completed his vocational studies in masonry in 2010 and three new students have been added (Rita, Suza, and Clara).
  
• A pharmacy has been built in Kinshasha in hopes of raising more funds while simultaneously providing some vital medications to those in need (see photos below).
  
• Official campaigning has begun for presidential and parliamentary elections to be held November 28, 2011 -- this will be only the second democratic elections since Congo gained independence in 1960.

Exterior of the pharmacy.

Inside the pharmacy.

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