Plant With Purpose Launches Seventh Poverty Alleviation Program
2
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Plant With Purpose Launches Seventh Poverty Alleviation Program Holistic development program begins in the Democratic Republic of the Congo SAN DIEGO—September 1, 2015—Plant With Purpose announces the official launch of its pilot program in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The program is part of the organization’s Plant For Tomorrow expansion campaign, which aims to double program impact by 2017. The organization is $100,000 away from its $3.5 million fundraising goal. The Democratic Republic of the Congo faces both extreme poverty and environmental degradation across an area nearly twothirds the size of Western Europe. In terms of human rights, development, and infrastructure, the nation consistently ranks among the lowest in the world. Ethnic conflicts and civil wars in neighboring countries have also spilled across the DRC’s borders, bringing widespread famine, rape, and disease that continue to claim millions of lives. Instability also threaten millions of acres of ancient forests. Plant With Purpose’s DRC pilot program will focus on communities in the Kakumba Watershed located on the northwest edge of Lake Tanganyika. This hillside habitat is home of the endangered mountain gorilla. By teaching environmental restoration, the program will promote protection of this rare animal and mobilize reforestation efforts in the region. Farmer associations and savingsandloan groups will provide opportunities for reconciliation as groups work together toward common goals. Local staff is working under the leadership of project manager Birori Dieudonne. Birori’s experience includes five years as a planning and evaluation specialist with a local NGO. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the Kigali Institute of Education in Rwanda. “Though the tragic history and ongoing crises in the Democratic Republic of the Congo present a unique challenge, I am confident that Plant With Purpose’s threepart approach will help restore dignity and stability to the Congolese who have been most affected by recent conflicts,” says Executive Director Scott Sabin. “Birori has already formed invaluable partnerships, and I look forward to the results of the pilot program.” Plant With Purpose’s threepart methodology focuses on environmental restoration, economic empowerment, and spiritual renewal, equipping subsistence farmers with the tools needed to lift themselves out of poverty. The organization partners with 130,000 adults and children in seven countries to transform despair into hope. To date, more than 15.5 million trees have been planted, restoring watersheds and revitalizing the land, and 800 communitybased savings groups in 406 villages are sowing seeds of financial security. Hundreds of pastors and church leaders are being mobilized to address needs in their communities and share the importance of environmental stewardship. Over the next two years, Plant With Purpose will expand beyond the DRC and into Ethiopia, eventually partnering with 200 new communities, and impacting an additional 100,000 individuals. Pledges toward the Plant For Tomorrow campaign will be accepted through October 15, 2015. For more information, visit plantwithpurpose.org.
-
Upload
plant-with-purpose -
Category
Documents
-
view
35 -
download
2
description
Holistic development program begins in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Transcript of Plant With Purpose Launches Seventh Poverty Alleviation Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Plant With Purpose Launches Seventh Poverty Alleviation Program Holistic development program begins in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
SAN DIEGO—September 1, 2015—Plant With Purpose announces the official launch of its pilot program in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The program is part of the organization’s Plant For Tomorrow expansion campaign, which aims to double program impact by 2017. The organization is $100,000 away from
its $3.5 million fundraising goal.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo faces both extreme poverty and environmental degradation across an area nearly two-‐thirds the size of Western Europe. In terms of human rights, development, and infrastructure, the nation consistently ranks among the lowest in the world. Ethnic conflicts and civil wars in
neighboring countries have also spilled across the DRC’s borders, bringing widespread famine, rape, and disease that continue to claim millions of lives. Instability also threaten millions of acres of ancient forests.
Plant With Purpose’s DRC pilot program will focus on communities in the Kakumba Watershed located on the northwest edge of Lake Tanganyika. This hillside habitat is home of the endangered mountain gorilla. By
teaching environmental restoration, the program will promote protection of this rare animal and mobilize reforestation efforts in the region. Farmer associations and savings-‐and-‐loan groups will provide
opportunities for reconciliation as groups work together toward common goals.
Local staff is working under the leadership of project manager Birori Dieudonne. Birori’s experience includes five years as a planning and evaluation specialist with a local NGO. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the Kigali Institute of Education in Rwanda.
“Though the tragic history and ongoing crises in the Democratic Republic of the Congo present a unique
challenge, I am confident that Plant With Purpose’s three-‐part approach will help restore dignity and stability to the Congolese who have been most affected by recent conflicts,” says Executive Director Scott Sabin. “Birori has already formed invaluable partnerships, and I look forward to the results of the pilot program.”
Plant With Purpose’s three-‐part methodology focuses on environmental restoration, economic
empowerment, and spiritual renewal, equipping subsistence farmers with the tools needed to lift themselves out of poverty. The organization partners with 130,000 adults and children in seven countries to transform despair into hope. To date, more than 15.5 million trees have been planted, restoring watersheds and
revitalizing the land, and 800 community-‐based savings groups in 406 villages are sowing seeds of financial security. Hundreds of pastors and church leaders are being mobilized to address needs in their communities and share the importance of environmental stewardship.
Over the next two years, Plant With Purpose will expand beyond the DRC and into Ethiopia, eventually
partnering with 200 new communities, and impacting an additional 100,000 individuals. Pledges toward the Plant For Tomorrow campaign will be accepted through October 15, 2015. For more information, visit plantwithpurpose.org.
###
About Plant With Purpose
Plant With Purpose (plantwithpurpose.org) is an international development organization that transforms lives in rural areas where poverty is caused by deforestation. For more than 30 years, Plant With Purpose has
provided lasting solutions to rural poverty through a community development approach that integrates reforestation, sustainable agriculture programs, economic opportunity through microfinance, and local leadership development. Plant With Purpose currently works in more than 400 communities in seven
countries: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Tanzania, and Thailand. The organization has planted over 15.5 million trees worldwide.
For interviews, inquiries, or additional information on Plant With Purpose, including videos or photos, please contact Becky Rosaler.
Contact: Becky Rosaler
Marketing and Events 800.633.5319 Office 760.650.2819 Cell
[email protected] plantwithpurpose.org
