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The Congo Basin found in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) hosts one of the world’s most important ecosystems: the world’s second largest rainforest, a vital carbon sink and biodiversity hotspot.

In spite of its ecological importance to the planet, the people who rely on its environmental health for survival now face great challenges. 99% of the DRC's rural population lives in extreme poverty. Two factors that maintain the cycle of poverty are the persistence of conflict throughout the region and the depletion of the rainforest. Since 2017, the DRC has lost more forest cover than any other country except Brazil.

Plant With Purpose in the DRC

Plant With Purpose began work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2015. By building local enthusiasm and skills around forest protection, ecosystem restoration, and regenerative farming, participants are able to eat one extra meal per day on average. Spiritual renewal activities have helped heal past divisions and created a sense of unity between various groups. By investing in spiritual, ecological, and financial health, communities are finding ways to break destructive cycles of poverty and violence that have long affected the country.

Your support for these programs not only directly benefits participants, but also all those living in these watershed communities. Because of the interrelated nature of the DRC’s biggest challenges, we are firmly committed to scaling up our holistic solutions. We are expanding our work to over 11 watersheds by the end of 2025.

Expand the Work in the DRC

Key Stats

7
Program Watersheds
369
Savings Groups
10,578
Participating Families
89,384
People
127
Church Partnerships
4,371,540
Trees Planted
Download the Program Fact Sheet

Meet Some of Our Partners from the DRC

Select an image to learn more.

Aurore and Sabine find reconciliation and friendship.

Aurore and Sabine find reconciliation and friendship.

Aurore and Sabine are neighbors with a long-standing dispute. “We didn’t speak to each other, and our mutual hatred had even impacted our children.” When Plant With Purpose began work in their community, they attended the training and ended up in the same Purpose Group. Because of their feud, it was difficult to pray together at the start of the meeting. After prayer, their group goes through an inspirational slogan. “Our slogan talks about ‘TUUDUMISHE UPENDO, MUSHIKAMANO NA NIZAMU,’ which means ‘let us strengthen love, solidarity, and discipline.’ We were touched by these words every time we repeated them and, because of that, we decided to reconcile and reestablish our friendship as before. I sincerely thank my friend who took the courage to come and see me in the first place so that we could reconcile.”

Assumani’s journey to self-respect through honoring God with his work.

Assumani’s journey to self-respect through honoring God with his work.

Assumani is an educated young father with a bachelor’s degree in Environment and Agronomy. Despite his degree, he was unable to get a good job after graduation. “My life was in crisis; I couldn’t even buy a little laundry soap … I became a miserable man …” Assumani heard about a Theology of Work training by Plant With Purpose through his church. He attended with the intent of asking for a job, but the training instead changed the way he saw his God-given talents. “Pastor Sibomana told us about the talent that God gave every person and how we can use our talents to change our destiny. His words rang in my ears and I decided to work—I decided to find any job I could do. I was ashamed at first to see myself, an educated man, doing small work. But, when I started earning money, I began to feel proud of myself … I realize that my work praises God and work has given me joy and hope for the future.”

Byamungu’s journey from outcast to respected nurseryman.

Byamungu’s journey from outcast to respected nurseryman.

Byamungu began his journey with Plant With Purpose in 2020. Before joining a Purpose Group, he describes his life as “the most neglected in my community.” After joining the group, it was hard to save money at first. “We had no idea how to save money because we never had any extra money in our whole lives. I decided to start saving the little that we could.” Over time, Byamungu was able to invest in agriculture and become a nurseryman in the tree nurseries. “Those who used to mock me are now coming to me to ask what secret I have used to change my household conditions… Now, I am confident and have respect and authority in my community. May God bless Plant With Purpose for starting a project in a forgotten and abandoned village.”

Frequently Asked Questions

In 2015, we started working in South Kivu and specifically in the Kakumba watershed. Over the past seven years we have expanded our program into seven watersheds in the South Kivu region.
Yes, it is relatively safe for our team in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to work. The local leadership plays a key role in keeping a pulse on the security situation and protocols (if needed) to navigate uncertain and/or unstable periods of time.
We work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) because the families we work with are farming some of the most difficult landscape in the world and face conditions of extreme poverty. The Congo Basin found in the DRC hosts one of the world’s most important ecosystems: the world’s second largest rainforest, a vital carbon sink and biodiversity hotspot. In spite of its ecological importance to the planet, the people who rely on its environmental health for survival now face great challenges. 99% of the DRC's rural population lives in extreme poverty. Two factors that maintain the cycle of poverty are the persistence of conflict throughout the region and the depletion of the rainforest. Since 2017, the DRC has lost more forest cover than any other country except Brazil.
READ MORE FAQs

Our Global Impact

Thailand

  • 63 Purpose Groups
  • 3,545 People Served
  • 69 Church Partnerships
  • 2,803,997 Trees Planted
  • More about our work in Thailand

    Tanzania

  • 533 Purpose Groups
  • 61,618 People Served
  • 317 Church Partnerships
  • 17,739,068 Trees Planted
  • More about our work in Tanzania

    Mexico

  • 304 Purpose Groups
  • 17,777 People Served
  • 104 Church Partnerships
  • 1,191,044 Trees Planted
  • More about our work in Mexico

    Haiti

  • 605 Purpose Groups
  • 84,336 People Served
  • 127 Church Partnerships
  • 6,433,828 Trees Planted
  • More about our work in Haiti

    Ethiopia

  • 485 Purpose Groups
  • 47,920 People Served
  • 92 Church Partnerships
  • 2,940,590 Trees Planted
  • More about our work in Ethiopia

    Dominican Republic

  • 338 Purpose Groups
  • 39,590 People Served
  • 178 Church Partnerships
  • 18,651,102 Trees Planted
  • More about our work in Dominican Republic

    Democratic Republic of the Congo

  • 369 Purpose Groups
  • 89,384 People Served
  • 127 Church Partnerships
  • 4,371,540 Trees Planted
  • More about our work in the DRC

    Burundi

  • 816 Purpose Groups
  • 115,999 People Served
  • 184 Church Partnerships
  • 8,615,842 Trees Planted
  • More about our work in Burundi

    USA

    Our Global Headquarters:
    4747 Morena Blvd., Suite 100,
    San Diego, CA 92117

    858.274.3718
    [email protected]

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