The Humanitarian Organization for Lasting Development (HOLD DRC) is an organization that puts people at the center of all sustainable development in the community. Having noticed a low standard of living due to the ongoing conflicts in eastern DRC, HOLD DRC advocates for improving good health practices and empowering more vulnerable groups.
Humanitarian Organization for Sustainable Development (HOLD DRC)’s intervention includes:
HOLD-DRC is Humanitarian Organization for Lasting Development, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a Congolese Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), formed in 2012 by a group of professionals who were convinced that more could be done to raise the low Human Development Index ranking of DR Congo.
The staff at HOLD-DRC are longtime colleagues in DR Congo who asked for our help. We formed ACT for Congo to answer their call. HOLD-DRC is an inclusive, community-based organization working to:
Cultivate Community
Strengthen Human Capital
Develop Sustainably
Provide Social Protection
Promote Gender Equity
From the Act for Congo home page:
We believe that lasting change in Congo can only come from the people of Congo.
Our Executive Director and Program Manager began working in Central Africa in 1972. Over time, they saw that foreign aid rarely produced long-term benefits. Deep, lasting benefits only came from the people living on the inside. So, they decided to work in a radically different way: instead of directing aid from the outside, they would support Congolese programs and leaders with a demonstrated history of fostering change in their communities.
Further Info
HOLD-DRC works locally, educating and organizing communities to promote health, leadership and governance, economic empowerment, and conflict transformation in and around Goma, DR Congo. Their programs include:
Comprehensive Education – In addition to receiving a state-certified vocational degree, students at HOLD learn basic hygiene, reproductive health, and how to avoid catching and spreading common diseases. They learn their rights under the 2006 Congolese constitution, money management, communication and leadership skills.
Human Development Clubs – All incoming students are assigned to a Human Development Club, with other students in her cohort that share the same vocational skill. They receive support and continued education about health, exercising their rights, and managing their careers. They also learn to manage money and can obtain access to rotating credit to build their business.
Peer Leadership and Education – Graduates have the option of training to become peer educators, who go into neighborhoods and share sound information about diseases, reproductive health, or human rights. Accurate information saves lives, and HOLD’s peer educators are trusted by their communities.
Mediation and Counseling – When she arrives at HOLD, a woman is paired with a counselor who determines her overall health and monitors her stability. A counselor might refer her for medical care, legal assistance, or help with family mediation. Close contact with the counselor both at HOLD and through home visits helps a teen mom address her problems and build a better life.
Cultural Club – There is a culture of silence around difficult issues everywhere, and DR Congo is no exception. HOLD graduates use poetry, drama, and music to start dialogue in their communities. They perform plays at local churches and produce music videos that are distributed by DVD and the internet.
Environmental Club – Sustainable development is key to quality of life in DR Congo. Environmental Club focuses on teaching communities about the connection between health and the environment, clean water, and quality food. Their first action was a successful neighborhood clean up, and they now promote composting and plant urban gardens.
