The Congo is a region lush with resources – gold, diamonds, and minerals.  Yet for all its wealth, it has been ravaged by war and disease, hunger and displacement for years.  Nearly 6 million people have died there since 1996, half of them children under five years of age, and tens of thousands of women and girls have been raped amidst what is considered to be one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.  The conflict in the Congo is the most deadly since World War II.

Little has been said in the media about the Congo and its devastation; little until friends of the Congo and students worldwide established “Breaking the Silence,” Congo Week.  From October 18 through the 24th, students and community activists around the globe will organize events dealing with the Congo, from films to lectures to demonstrations, in order to raise awareness about the great plight that exists in that region.

To become more involved in Congo Week and humanitarian efforts in the Congo:

•  Become a key organizer on your own college campus or in you community to either host an event or spread the word about Break the Silence Week. 
• Or, find a Congo Week event in your area and support learning about and awareness of the area.