Democratic Republic of the Congo
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
Meet Some of Our Partners from the DRC

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.
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