The Context
The Democratic Republic of Congo is almost the size of Western Europe and is the largest country in Sub-Saharan Africa. It has exceptional natural resources, hydropower potential, significant arable land, unique biodiversity, and the world’s second-largest rainforest.
Despite this situation, most people in DRC have not profited from this wealth. A long history of tensions, political instability, and authoritarian rule has brought an ongoing humanitarian crisis. The country is among the five poorest nations in the world, having in 2021, nearly 64 % of its inhabitants living on less than $2.15 a day.
ST Foundation’s Presence
Due to its complex context, the DRC became the first country outside the ST area that was added to the ST Foundation map. In 2005, the DU Program was introduced with the support of the Foundation’s initial partner: Movimento per la Lotta Contro la Fame Nel Mondo (MLFM). As a result of this collaboration, two informatics centers were set up in the South Kivu Region. When the partnership ended in 2008, the Foundation decided to stay and continue its fight against the country’s digital divide.
Today, the Foundation is still present, with nine centers in the Katanga Province, where the social and educational conditions are challenging. The pandemic slowed down the Foundation’s activities, although they were never interrupted. As of December 2022, the activities continue regularly, and over 86,000 beneficiaries have been reached since the initiative’s inception.
