Youth of Mweka with Dr. Marie-Claire MUTANDA 112

My country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been at war more or less since its independence. The war is a race for minerals unjustly brought by Western multinationals helped by our neighbors Rwanda and Uganda since 1996. Over 13 million lives have been lost. Millions of powerless children and women dying for the misfortune of being born on a land rich in minerals like colton and cobalt to name a few.

On top of the ravages of war, my country suffers from another blight -corrupt leaders with no vision, causing the deterioration of much of the country especially inland places like my native territory of Mweka.

The Mweka of my childhood had electricity, running water, and well-maintained roads (enough that a Volkswagen Beetle could travel anywhere.) A Mweka that the kids growing up today could not fathom. There are parts of Mweka that are not accessible with a 4-wheel drive. What used to be a delivery network of trucks and trains that carried merchandise that fed the whole Grand Kasai region is today young bikers called "Bayanda" pushing cargo on bicycles through sandy hills, no matter the weather.

Seeing the failure of the system compelled me to go back and start different initiatives to bring my skills, connections, and experience and help my country defend and protect the sovereignty and integrity of its land such that we take care of our people first.

I have over 20 years of international work experience, working in organizations like UNICEF and Doctors Without Borders. My experience ranges from public health specialist to emergency response consultant. I was in Sierra Leone in 2014 fighting against Ebola. I started my international experience as a way to protect my daughter fleeing the war in Congo in 1997.

Since retiring from UNICEF, I’ve rallied around community wellness and organization activities centering holistic health. Some activities I've run and supported include: (1) nature walks discovering Congo (2) a youth-organized basketball tournament for the youth or (3) an art festival at a colonial-era jazz bar. Through Petit Don a l’Humanite, my foundation, I seek to help the youth find their voices so they can feel empowered to dream and build the Congo they deserve.

Please give as much as you can whether it's $100, $50, $20, 10$ or $2. Also, feel free to share with friends and family :) Your support will help us do our part in building the Congo we all deserve.

Much love Dr Marie-Claire MUTANDA MIKOBI MBAYO