Our organization
MIssion and Vision
Our mission is to empower Congolese women and children to bring about long-lasting positive social, emotional, physical and economical well-being for them and their communities.
Hear Congo’s vision is to realize a sustainable model of local support and lasting peace for the people of Congo through women's empowerment.
Our History
In 2005, after witnessing the horrific consequences of the DR Congo’s decades-long war, Kaleba H. Ngoie-Kasongo began a small initiative to assist in the procurement of medical supplies and funding for school tuitions. In 2008, she founded HEAR CONGO, formerly called Shitowa, (a 501c(3) organization).
At its inception HEAR CONGO focused on humanitarian aid and worked in close collaboration with local and international hospitals, independent healthcare professionals, schools and organizations to provide assistance to the displaced population and women and girls survivors of sexual violence in the Eastern Congo and Haut Katanga regions of DRC. In 2012, HEAR CONGO broadened its vision to enable Congolese women to take ownership of their lives and futures both individually and through community programs. We learned early that the most effective approach was that of grassroots efforts, i.e. developing small projects that yield large impact.
Project name: Medical Mission Mugunga III/Shasha, Internally Displaced Camps
Where: North Kivu, Eastern Congo
Partners: Project Congo, HEAL Africa, Tree of Life International
Objective: provide medical care to families of Internally Displaced
Impact: 200 families served
Project name: Medical missions to assist the vulnerable population in Bukavu at survivors of sexual violence
Where: South Kivu, Eastern Congo
Partners: Project Congo, St-Vincent Hospital, Tree of Life International
Objective: provide medical care to survivors of sexual violence
Impact: 100 women and 150 children served
Where: Lubumbashi, Haut Katanga
Partners: UN Higher Commission for Refugees, Province of Katanga
Objective: provide assistance and resettlement totheInternally Displaced population
Impact: more than 350 individuals resettled
Project name: Agriculture Project with focus on women and children,MASISI, Eastern Congo
Partners: HOLD, DRC
Objective: provide Economic Empowerment to women and teen mothers
Impact: 50 women and teen mothers produced crops for consumption and trade
Project name: Touscontre les violencessexuelles, Kimbaseke, Kinshasa
Partners: IDEA/ MONUSCO
Objective: Train women pairs educators to fight sexual violence, HIV and malaria and through campaign/women empowerment
Impact: more than 20,000 individuals were educated
Project name: Projet MAFUNZO
Partners: Fonds Social de TenkeFungurume Mining
Objective: Empower young men and women with job kills and leadership training for human and economic development in Tenke
Impact: on going project
Our Team
Kaleba H. Ngoie-Kasongo
Executive Director and Founder
US board and Volunteers
Vicky Sinahamu
Board member- Vice President
Tom Oglesby
Board member- Chief Legal adviser
Kari Fields
Board member- Fundraiser and support
Laura Cerwinske
Board member- Creative and editorial Director
Michele Kanama
Marketing Strategy and support
Aura Ordonez
Research and Data collection
Global Advisors
Robert Haans
Managing Director/IOS Partners
Dibab Saba Ishetu
Managing Director/Sonia Enterprise International Trading Group
Nicole Smith
Editor
Marie-Chantal Kanyinda
Executive Director, World Diamond Council
U.S. Advisory Committee Members
Rosana Bowman
Vice-President, United States Committee for UN Women Miami Chapter
Dr. Yesim Darici
Director FIU Women Studies Center
Rosy Castro
Board member
Simone Dominique
Board member- Strategy Support and guidance
DR Congo Key Staff
Kinshasa (headqarters)
Francoise Mizerero
Lead Program Coordinator
Felix Bope
Lead accountant
Lubumbashi
Florence Myanda
Regional Coordinator
Tenke
Patrice Lubenga
Project manager
Partners
