Update for Rotary

Dear Friends,

Greetings from eastern Congo.

When steady electricity, internet connections and free time permit, I am able to stay abreast of Rotary news from the town of Goma here in Eastern Congo. I will be sorry to miss David Holdsworth on heritage buildings and the upcoming talk on human trafficking, the former because I have an interest in heritage buildings, and the latter because human trafficking is an ongoing problem in most of the places the Canadian Army sends me.

So, Congo, Democratic Republic of. A quick scan of world news paints a bleak picture of this country, and it is sadly accurate. Every sector of society faces widespread and systemic corruption: government, police, military, justice system. Human rights violations of the worst kinds are systemic and occurring in large numbers every day. Add to this mix so many armed rebel groups that it is difficult to enumerate them, and the scope of the problem can be overwhelming. But rather than dwell on pathos, I’d like to describe briefly what I am doing here, and show you what the results are when international organizations like Rotary turn their attention to issues like the dreadful situation here.

My small role is primarily to plan and coordinate the military operations conducted against armed groups, under the wider goal of protecting the population and restoring state authority. Planning military operations here involves more than tactical decisions – we integrate efforts to rescue child soldiers, reintegrate surrendering rebels back into society, care for the families of combatants who are dragged into the conflict, promote womens’ rights, and then follow military operations with massive efforts to achieve an enduring stability in an area.

The UN is perhaps the largest organization trying to assist the Congo, but not the only one. Numerous countries provide financial assistance, and international organizations including Rotary make an incredibly important contribution in the lives of individual Congolese people. There are Rotary Clubs in Kinshasa and Bukavu, which is an amazing achievement in such dire circumstances.

Outside of my day job, I have had some opportunities to help in a more direct way. On weekends I and my fellow Canadian officers support a local orphanage/school by delivering supplies. There are several other villages where Canadian support has built wells, brick schoolhouses, and provided the necessities of life. As you can see from the attached photo, it is also clear that our clothing donations do, in fact, reach their intended targets.

When I see the appalling conditions around me, I am heartened by the knowledge that Rotary and so many other organizations exist. The larger problems of the Congo require a political solution, but in the interim, Rotarians and others are stepping up to make life better for the people. The results are gratifying to witness.

I look forward to seeing you all prior to Christmas and I hope that you are all healthy and happy.