Democratic Republic of Congo (MNN) — The history of conflict in the DRC, currently intensified by the advancement of M23 rebels, is fraught with complexity. Compounding factors include clashes of ethnic identities, control of mineral resources, and disputes over regional agreements. Caught in this web are the nation’s children, many of whom have only known lives of conflict.
David Durance from TeachBeyond says the violence and atrocities occurring in the rebel-occupied Eastern cities are echoing in the capital city, Kinshasa. There, protests and uncertainty in the streets mean unsafe school commutes for children. Teachers and parents face constant trade-offs.
“That’s a by-day decision trying to determine whether it’s safe for kids to go to school,” Durance says.
He believes it is best for students to maintain the normalcy of school attendance, but dangers in the city have turned TeachBeyond’s programming into a balancing act.
“Safety in the city – just getting from one place to another – can be a real concern, so we’ve had to really adjust our schedule and at some points not offer any programs just because we’re not recommending people leave their homes,” Durance says.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.
Local teachers and school heads say kids are confused and shaken by recent events. The unknowns they face in the absence of school routines create gaps that are immediately flooded with fear.
“There are underlying issues of trauma that come out of this where kids have to deal with the fear of just doing normal life,” Durance says.
Things like walking to school or picking up a grocery item at a local shop are off the table. Educators must think creatively to maintain safe school environments. Durance says they ask the question, “How do we educate in the context that life is happening for the students God has given us?”
A partial solution is to relocate educational efforts, at least temporarily. TeachBeyond is opening schools outside Kinshasa, where some kids can still be supported educationally. Regardless of school attendance, Durance says this is a time when children are open to the Gospel.
“Kids are ready to hear that ultimately our hope is not in a government leader or a rebel leader or anything like this,” he says.
Whether they are witnessing violence, being uprooted from homes and routines, or even facing conscription threats, kids need to be grounded in the Kingdom of God so they have an eternal lens for processing earthly events, Durance says. Herein lies an opportunity for Christians.
“In the DRC, the Christian community is responding – even in some ways taking the lead in trying to bring peace to their country,” he says.
Christian leaders are banding together to promote peaceful messaging and action. By doing so, they are putting themselves at great harm. Please pray for them, and pray that their testimonies will affect citizens and rebels alike.
Pray especially for the children of DRC’s unrest: that they would find hope and freedom from fear in the shadow of the Almighty.
Durance gives believers three other prayer points for the DRC:
- That the region would see lasting peace.
- That the church would remain faithful.
- That everyday people would be helped physically and spiritually by the hands and feet of Christ who are responding to them.
For in-depth background and analysis of the DRC conflict, see the American Enterprise Institute’s special report.
Featured photo courtesy of Kimberly Farmer via Unsplash.
