The situation in UgandaThe average elevation of the Republic of Uganda is 1,000 metres above sea level in the Central African Highlands. more has improved gradually and the Rebound Project already helped hundreds of war-affected youth in the last three years.
Second Rebound Project has started
In neighboring eastern Congo however, there is still great hardship and war is everywhere. Therefore a second rebound project will be started in the region of BeniBeni is situated in the east of DRC. This small city has 100,000 inhabitants and belongs to the region of North Kivu. more. For years World Vision is committed in eastern Congo with humanitarian aid and children's centers. It also supports the peace work of smaller Congolese NGO `s, working against corruption and lawlessness.
Lawlessness and chaos
While in northern UgandaThe average elevation of the Republic of Uganda is 1,000 metres above sea level in the Central African Highlands. more many families return to their villages, there is still only lawlessness and chaos in villages in the neighboring Congo.
After a decade of working in the Congo the world's largest UN-peacekeeping mission was not able to enforce more than a fragile peace.
The everyday life of most people in the east is particularly badly affected by continuing civil war. Many families are sitting on packed suitcases, always expecting attacks by rebels and punishment of the undisciplined government army.
The Project Rebound is now involved in a region of relative security in the small town of BeniBeni is situated in the east of DRC. This small city has 100,000 inhabitants and belongs to the region of North Kivu. more not far from the Ugandan border.
Rebound Center in BeniBeni is situated in the east of DRC. This small city has 100,000 inhabitants and belongs to the region of North Kivu. more
Many escaped Child soldiersA child soldier is: “... any person below 18 years of age who is or has been recruited or used by an armed force or armed group (...), more find protection in the urban environment of BeniBeni is situated in the east of DRC. This small city has 100,000 inhabitants and belongs to the region of North Kivu. more. Here they are not as segregated as in their home villages. So for Rebound BeniBeni is situated in the east of DRC. This small city has 100,000 inhabitants and belongs to the region of North Kivu. more is the right place for the new project in which young people are assisted to master their own lives.
In Congo the possession of a Kalashnikov means to make a living. Who is even part of a rebel group can take what he wants. Rule of law is absent and small militias are often an extension of politicians, businessmen or even the police. The government army consists mostly of amnestied bush fighters.
vocational training
To give the war-affected youths a peaceful perspective, not only helps the individual but the entire region.
In the planned training centers the former Child soldiersA child soldier is: “... any person below 18 years of age who is or has been recruited or used by an armed force or armed group (...), more and sexually abused girls will receive vocational training and psycho-social care.
Rebound Congo builds on the experience gained in UgandaThe average elevation of the Republic of Uganda is 1,000 metres above sea level in the Central African Highlands. more, on the acquisition of social skills and values, especially in the treatment of psychological trauma.
Host families
Young people without accommodation live in host families and will be accompanied, like all other the others in the programme, by World Vision staff. Long-term goal of Rebound is to reintegrate the former child solders into their former village and to reunite them with their families.
World Vision has worked for years under the most adverse circumstances in the area of BeniBeni is situated in the east of DRC. This small city has 100,000 inhabitants and belongs to the region of North Kivu. more and has a network of experienced employees. This is the basic prerequisite for successful work in one of the worst crisis areas of the world.
The Congo conflict
Since September 2008, the situation in the Congolese province of Orientale and in neighboring Western Equatoria in southern Sudan has deteriorated dramatically. LRALord`s Resistance Army: Joseph Kony established the Lord’s Resistance Army in northern Uganda in 1988. more attacks and harassment by government forces make life hell for the residents.< /p>
With a joint military action the Governments of UgandaThe average elevation of the Republic of Uganda is 1,000 metres above sea level in the Central African Highlands. more, Congo, Southern Sudan and the Central African Republic started a major attack on the strongholds of the rebellious LRALord`s Resistance Army: Joseph Kony established the Lord’s Resistance Army in northern Uganda in 1988. more. "Operation Lightning Thunder" remained largely unsuccessful. After all, they forced Joseph KonyJoseph Kony is one of the most wanted militia leaders in the world. more to constantly flee from the soldiers.
Two months later, on 24 December 2008, the LRALord`s Resistance Army: Joseph Kony established the Lord’s Resistance Army in northern Uganda in 1988. more launched a retaliatory attack on remote villages deep in the Congolese jungle. In apparent desperation, and to spread terror, the LRALord`s Resistance Army: Joseph Kony established the Lord’s Resistance Army in northern Uganda in 1988. more killed over 600 people and abducted over 160 children. 110 000 Congolese are still on the run because of this attack.
On the other hand, recent peace efforts in other areas led to increased demobilization of rebels and thus also to the release of Child soldiersA child soldier is: “... any person below 18 years of age who is or has been recruited or used by an armed force or armed group (...), more. In order to stabilize peace in the region, it is essential to reintegrate these children and young people into their communities - which already partially succeeded. It otherwise sometimes happens that Child soldiersA child soldier is: “... any person below 18 years of age who is or has been recruited or used by an armed force or armed group (...), more return voluntarily to the rebels. The government and aid agencies suspect that they go back due to lack of prospects in their villages. The children and young people lack of skills and when they additionally suffer from exclusion they are not able to determine their own future.
A staff member of World Vision has recently toured the east of the country to prepare the new project rebound. Her descriptions show clearly, how urgent small local organizations need assistence. Many civil society organizations in the Congo try to help young people already with quite successfully. But they lack money and know-how. Exactly this is why such projects like Rebound are needed now.
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