The goal of “Fight For Five” is to create a global awareness campaign for the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Congo is one of the poorest economic and civil disasters on the planet. Child soldiers are being recruited for a myriad of political civil wars, women are being raped and tortured, two thousand people die daily of starvation and disease. A January 2008 IRC survey found that 5.4 million people have died from war-related causes in Congo since 1998 – the worlds deadliest documented conflict since WW II. This crisis in the East of the DRC has been called the worst humanitarian crisis of the century. Currently more than 500,000 people have been forced to flee from escalating violence in towns in eastern Congo after renewed fighting between rebels and pro-government militia. The plight of this nation is inconceivable to many people, and “Fight For Five” campaign intends to enlighten people around the world to the many hardships that the Congo faces on a daily basis.
Obliterate Poverty!
Poverty in Congo consists of starvation, executions, cannibalism, sexual slavery, recruitment of child soldiers, and the transmission of HIV/Aids through rape - where does one begin in trying to tell of the appalling human rights abuses that are daily occurrences in the Congo? Children are dying faster in Congo than in all but ten other countries in the world, according to U.N. statistics. An International Rescue Committee survey conducted last year found that 1,000 Congolese children a day - are still dying from the indirect consequences of the war.
The Congo is facing starvation in 3 years! The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says Congo needs $736.5 million worth of relief this year, more than any other country except neighboring Sudan. Civilians driven from their homes by fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo's eastern North Kivu province are facing starvation as clashes between government troops and rebels block relief efforts. The UN World Food Program has cut ration sizes by half to the people it is feeding in the region. Daily fighting there between government troops and rebels has added tens of thousands of newly displaced civilians, to the 837,000 the UN has already registered. Malnutrition affects approximately two thirds of the country's population. The number of children suffering from severe malnutrition in Congo is rising dramatically as a result of the ongoing conflict. The conflict has intensified the effects of poverty ten times over and the situation has become dire. More people are killed by starvation or disease than by guns.
Negate Disease!
In Congo, malaria is the primary cause of illness and death: 5 million cases of malaria are reported annually, resulting in 500,000 to 1 million people deaths. What few hospitals that exist have seen an influx of patients suffering from preventable diseases. Recently, cholera cases in some areas of the region have tripled since the conflict erupted in October. The disease is mainly transmitted through contaminated water and food and is linked to poor sanitation.Rates of infant, under-five and maternal mortality are staggering. One in five children dies before reaching the age of five due to disease.
Gain Knowledge!
This is a critical moment for Congolese education. In a country that produces the majority of cobalt used in computers and cell phones, a single computer is hardly found. A single dictionary in a school is considered a luxury. Internal conflict and poverty have taken their toll, and what remains is a majority of people who function without paved roads, electricity or running water. Political struggles for power and resources have rendered government health and education provision nearly obsolete. In many cases, villages and communities have been left to their own devices. The poorest segments of the population often pay for teachers’ salaries, school buildings, and administrators’ offices to compensate for suspended government support. The Mwamba Family Foundation holds a strong belief in power of education to bring about positive change in the DR of Congo.
Patrice Majondo-Mwamba visited an elementary school in Lubumbashi, Katanga.
Patrice visited a local school in Lubumbashi and visited with the students and teachers. The Fight For Five Campain is involved in creating awareness about the conditions of these schools and is taking action to help create a better learning environment for these schools.
Obtain Success!
It is imperative that the “Fight For Five” is successful! It is out of an extreme sense of urgency that the Mwamba Family Foundation has organized the “Fight For Five” campaign, in order to bring about global awareness to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Success cannot be obtained by our endeavors, or by our voice alone. We need your help. Please take the time to spread the awareness, and help us in creating a world-wide voice for the Congo who is now enduring the worst humanitarian crisis of our century! Help us in stamping out poverty, preventable disease, and creating a more efficient education system for our beloved country of Congo.
Given the Congo's recent history, conflict along the eastern coast and poor economic conditions, many children are not able to attend school at all. Patrice and students sit crowded on school desks made with rail road tracks. They have no books. They have no paper and pen to copy from the chalk board. Yet, they are eager to learn. There are several dozen children watching from the outside because they cannot afford to go to school. Fight For Five!
Our Current Project!
The Mwamba Family Foundation is involved in building schools in Lubumbashi in the Katanga province. The local school houses (pictured above) are by all means insufficient for a proper learning environment. Fight For Five is the campaign that is making this possible. It is with a great sense of gratitude that the Mwamba Family Foundation does indeed thank all of our supporters who have been helping us spread awareness. We look forward to gaining our objective and finishing the school project with great success. The Fight For Five Campaign is involved in pursuing various other projects such as a sports facility for Congolese youth. Once again, thank you to all our supporters and friends. Fight For Five!
Patrice Majondo-Mwamba visited an elementary school in Lubumbashi, Katanga. 
Patrice visited a local school in Lubumbashi and visited with the students and teachers. The Fight For Five Campain is involved in creating awareness about the conditions of these schools and is taking action to help create a better learning environment for these schools.
Given the Congo's recent history, conflict along the eastern coast and poor economic conditions, many children are not able to attend school at all. Patrice and students sit crowded on school desks made with rail road tracks. They have no books. They have no paper and pen to copy from the chalk board. Yet, they are eager to learn. There are several dozen children watching from the outside because they cannot afford to go to school. Fight For Five!