CONTEXT

Kolwezi is a city of 800,000 located in the southern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is a relatively recent city, founded in 1937 by the Belgian mining company UMHK and for the whole of the twentieth century, it has been at the centre of Western interests in Central Africa. Like every big city, Kolwezi is marked by extraordinary contrasts — new luxury hotels are located side by side with sections of the population living in great poverty.

THE PROJECT

The friars in Kolwezi are mainly involved in taking in street children and the excluded, trying to ensure that they have a safe place to stay and receive basic education. These activities start from some fundamental needs, such as providing a safe roof over their heads and making sure that there is proper drinking water.

Over the years, Maison Kwetu has become a focal point for institutions and the local community. Many goals have been achieved, and many more are still to be accomplished.