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The Congo Basin in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) holds the world’s second-largest rainforest, crucial for the planet’s climate and biodiversity. Despite its importance, 99% of the DRC's rural population lives in extreme poverty. Conflict and rainforest destruction keep families trapped in poverty. Since 2017, the DRC has lost more forest cover than any other country except Brazil. Plant With Purpose helps restore the rainforest and empower communities, reconnecting people with the land and each other. Healing the forest means healing lives.

Breaking Cycles of Poverty and Violence in the DRC

Plant With Purpose started working in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2015, helping communities protect forests, restore ecosystems, and farm more sustainably. This has led to better food security, with many families eating an extra meal each day. Spiritual renewal is healing divisions and bringing communities together. "Investing in the land and our faith has given us hope," says one participant. The program is expanding to 11 watersheds by 2025, bringing lasting change to more communities. Healing the land means healing lives.

Expand the Work in the DRC

Key Stats

9
Program Watersheds
369
Savings Groups
10,693
Participating Families
90,272
People
211
Church Partnerships
6,853,745
Trees Planted
the DRC Impact Report coming soon!

Meet Some of Our Partners from the DRC

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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.”

"I already believe in having a better future."

"I already believe in having a better future."

Sifa from the Democratic Republic of Congo faced tough financial challenges before joining Plant With Purpose’s Purpose Groups. "Before I was a member, I had an idea for a business, but we lacked the financial means,” Sifa shared. Through training and savings, Sifa started a sewing business and now owns multiple machines. Her improved income has transformed their family’s future. Their success shows how restoring relationships with the land and community creates lasting change.

“I am so happy to be at this level"

“I am so happy to be at this level"

Mwenda, a trained nurse in Luberizi, struggled to find work due to a lack of healthcare infrastructure. “Five years ago, I earned my diploma in nursing, but there were no jobs,” he explains. Facing financial hardship, he and his wife focused on farming but couldn’t produce enough to sustain their family. After joining a Purpose Group, Mwenda saved enough to start a pharmacy. “People started coming to my small clinic for help,” he says. Now, his expanded business supplies most of the community with medicine, bringing both health and hope.

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

  • 84 Purpose Groups
  • 5,110 People Served
  • 342 Church Partnerships
  • 3,374,535 Trees Planted
  • More about our work in Thailand

    Tanzania

  • 582 Purpose Groups
  • 67,921 People Served
  • 342 Church Partnerships
  • 19,729,850 Trees Planted
  • More about our work in Tanzania

    Mexico

  • 379 Purpose Groups
  • 21,625 People Served
  • 126 Church Partnerships
  • 1,332,187 Trees Planted
  • More about our work in Mexico

    Haiti

  • 721 Purpose Groups
  • 96,451 People Served
  • 151 Church Partnerships
  • 8,029,768 Trees Planted
  • More about our work in Haiti

    Ethiopia

  • 596 Purpose Groups
  • 55,782 People Served
  • 97 Church Partnerships
  • 4,046,169 Trees Planted
  • More about our work in Ethiopia

    Dominican Republic

  • 437 Purpose Groups
  • 46,380 People Served
  • 211 Church Partnerships
  • 23,114,641 Trees Planted
  • More about our work in Dominican Republic

    Democratic Republic of the Congo

  • 369 Purpose Groups
  • 90,272 People Served
  • 211 Church Partnerships
  • 6,853,745 Trees Planted
  • More about our work in the DRC

    Burundi

  • 979 Purpose Groups
  • 139,567 People Served
  • 211 Church Partnerships
  • 10,183,268 Trees Planted
  • More about our work in Burundi

    USA

    Our Global Headquarters:
    5075 Shoreham Place, Suite 240
    San Diego, CA 92122

    858.274.3718
    [email protected]

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