Congo Initiative
Congo Initiative equips the rising generation through transformative education for a flourishing Congo.
UCBC agribusiness student, Hekima Kalumni, played a key role in organizing the 2018 Women’s Voices conference centered on the theme…… Read More →
Meet one of the future leaders of Congo, David Kasereka Bakwanamaha. Unlike many UCBC students, David is not the first in his family to attend a … Read More →
As we know, people around the world are joining together in the continued fight for women’s rights, equal pay, security, and justice. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, UCBC’s Women’s Voices has entered that fight, encouraging students and the wider community to challenge the pervasiveness of sexual violence against women and the norm of undervaluing […]
What did four years at l’Université Chrétienne Bilingue du Congo (UCBC) mean for Juliette Kavugho Mali (’14)? The youngest of three girls…… Read More →
A flourishing Congo starts with its children. Académie Bilingue du Congo (ABC) is seeking an impact-oriented director with a passion for the growth of this young school. The General Director of ABC oversees early childhood and primary education, envisioning the development and realization of the school’s mission. The Director serves as the key instructional coordinator, […]
From celebrating over 500 alumni and the 10-year anniversary of our main institution–l’Université Chrétienne Bilingue du Congo (UCBC)–to influencing land reform policy, to providing counseling for those deeply wounded by trauma and violence, our transformative community continues to be a beacon of hope amidst challenging times…. Read More →
Dr. Paul Robinson has a lifelong connection to the Democratic Republic of Congo, having been born and raised there until, at the age of 8, he became a refugee with his family. For most of his adult life, Paul has carried a very deep sense that God would one day bring his path full circle […]
“I’ve seen for myself what is happening. It’s exciting and I have real hope and confidence that CI and UCBC are making a difference.”… Read More →
Steve Kanayngambi (’12) is now known in Beni for his multimedia production for artists and local NGOs. As a UCBC alumnus, he is …… Read More →
How can we know women voices if that voice cannot be heard? That is why our vision is to visit those women, to speak to them, holding…… Read More →
“I’m supporting UCBC because I’ve seen it make a difference in the lives of young Congolese leaders. I truly believe these students will …”… Read More →
Exactly one month ago, I found myself on a charter plane flying west from Uganda, over some of Africa’s most beautiful and yet most conflicted countryside. A group of us from the U.S. were flying to Beni, in Congo’s troubled North Kivu province, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Congo Initiative’s Christian Bilingual University of […]
Amos Kambale Taluliva (’12) shares about his work with youth in Congo that was inspired by his education and experience at UCBC. … Read More →
Adelphine Angemito graduated in 2013. She now serves as a human resources coordinator for Congo Initiative in Beni.
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When Linda Kasali Musavuli first moved to Beni, she did not plan to study at UCBC. After attending secondary school in the big city …… Read More →
When the Academic Dean for Teaching, Innocent Bora, read the academic results at the 2016 UCBC graduation, the crowd erupted …… Read More →
“The anticipation that comes with knowing these new leaders are going out there to influence others around them in whatever field…”… Read More →
When you hear the term “startup” you may think of tech hubs like San Francisco, or perhaps the new investment opportunities in startups listed by Forbes and other business platforms. However, in eastern Congo, young entrepreneurs are not only competing to launch their own businesses, but also to create positive change and development in their communities. […]
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Watch UCBC alumna, Hulda Vagheni, reflect on 10 years of UCBC and shares why the university was so important for her and for Congo. … Read More →
Coffee is DR Congo’s number one agricultural export in terms of both revenue and volume.[1] Endowed with a favorable climate, rich soil, and abundant rainfall, DRC has the environmental conditions to produce some of the best coffees in the world. Despite its promise, DRC’s coffee sector has yet to fulfill its potential. But, that could […]
Every year on May 3, the world celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom on World Press Freedom Day. And, for the past 5 years, UCBC’s has organized a conference and annual festival of communication and information. But, for the first time UCBC recognized the excellence of about thirty local journalists, student press organizations and […]
[ci-button link=”https://congoinitiative.salsalabs.org/bethesda_counseling_center/index.html”]Bethesda Counseling Center[/ci-button]
On April 5th, during Congo Initiative’s International Justice Conference, Ugandan law professor Dr. Daniel Rhuweza was presenting justice challenges he faces in his country. Half-way through his presentation, he suddenly paused, stepped away from the podium, and dropped to his knees, head bowed. Overcome with emotion, he began to ask the audience of Congolese lawyers […]
Before joining the UCBC team as Agribusiness Coordinator, Subira Bonhomme new UCBC well. He recalls visiting UCBC a number of times and was drawn to the institution’s commitment to bilingual and holistic training that provided a global perspective on the environmental sciences, a field he planned to pursue passionately. Bonhomme grew up in the Lubero […]
As we celebrate our 10-year anniversary, we are thrilled to reveal our new look! One year ago we began a journey of seeking to better understand who we are and how to communicate with our diverse supporters in clear and compelling ways. The process involved conversations with employees and board members, our Congolese community, and our […]
On February 4, 2017, UN-Habitat/Global Land Tools Network (GLTN) in partnership with l’Université Chrétienne Bilingue du Congo (UCBC) and the North Kivu government, officially launched a project to support the land administration in the implementation of land reform programs in Beni and other areas of eastern Congo. The project aims to support land dispute resolution by […]
Wheaton College’s 2017 Symposium in Human Needs and Global Resources brings together diverse scholars and leaders to celebrate the transformative work that God is doing through young people around the world. We are pleased to share that Dr. David Kasali, Rector of the Christian Bilingual Christian University of Congo (UCBC) and Co-Founder of Congo Initiative, will deliver the […]
Gathering in UCBC’s new Hope Chapel Tent, 700 youth met to discuss, share, and reimagine their identities as young Congolese. A two-day conference put on by the Center for Church Renewal and Global Mission (CCRGM) focused on encouraging youth as the hope for Congolese social change now and in the future. Congolese youth are often […]
The new Bethesda Counseling Center recently held a two-day seminar for local church leaders. Focusing on the theme, “We are God’s instruments for healing and restoration,” the goals were to encourage and offer spiritual and psychological support to church leaders serving in communities facing trauma, and to open dialogue on creating safe spaces to listen to, […]
Please join Jack and hundreds of others participating in the hope and transformation bursting forth in eastern Congo. Every gift to the UCBC Fund is an investment in the future leaders of Congo! [ci-button link=”https://congoinitiative.salsalabs.org/ucbcfund”]GIVE TODAY![/ci-button]
On Wednesday, November 30th, UCBC organized and dedicated Hope Chapel, the newest edition to the campus. This outdoor tent will hold up to 800 people and serve the community as a gathering and chapel space until the completion of the University Chapel and Community Center. Apart from UCBC students and staff members, local organizations, churches, business […]
We are young women and men, students studying at the Bilingual Christian University of Congo (UCBC), located in Beni, North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo. In this year, 2016, we continue to live in a war zone, despite the peace agreements of 2002 that marked the official end of our country’s Great War, and […]
Congo Initiative is participating for the first time, in #GivingTuesday, on November 29, 2016. #GivingTuesday is a movement that celebrates generosity and kicks off the season of giving in the U.S. and elsewhere. Starting Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016, at 12:00 a.m. and continuing until 11:59 p.m. EST, you can join the giving movement and make […]
When Linda Kasali Musavuli first moved to Beni, she did not plan to study at UCBC. After attending secondary school in the big city and capital, Kinshasa, she could not imagine leaving the larger universities of the city for a young university in the town of Beni. In fact, she wanted to study some day […]
Written above the lobby of the Université Chrétienne Bilingue Du Congo’s (UCBC) library is the famous quote by Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” A powerful reminder of education’s important role promoting peace and the common good. Education comes in various forms, but books have always […]
When Matthieu Lembelembe graduated high school in Bukavu, DRC, he planned to pursue medical studies. But, seeing the situation in his country and the consequences of decades of war, he became determined to contribute to the rebuilding of his country in the very literal sense. Now a graduate of architecture, Lemblembe is now overseeing the […]
In answer to needs seen throughout the region of Beni, in North Kivu, people representing various sectors of the town of Beni came to witness the launching of Bethesda Counseling Center. Approximately 125 people were present on Friday, October 7, 2016, to witness the start of UCBC’s Bethesda Counseling Center in Beni. Not only were […]
Construction work on our visionary University Chapel and Community Center continues and we just completed four new classrooms, each with a potential capacity of 90 students. … Read More →
When the Academic Dean for Teaching, Innocent Bora, read the academic results at the 2016 UCBC graduation, the crowd erupted in cheers when Clarisse Ngoyi’s name was read. Ngoyi graduated with distinction and at the top graduate in her class…. Read More →
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Many of us are familiar with the anxieties that come with passing a major exam, particularly one that determines eligibility to attend an institution of higher education. In the United States, college entry exams like SAT and ACT play this role. In Congo, thousands of secondary school students take a similar exam called the Examen […]
It’s lunch time at the Université Chrétienne Bilingue du Congo, and the Secretary of the Rector, Vivian Bwirabuli, takes a break to enjoy a beautiful, breezy day at the campus in her hometown of Beni…. Read More →
In a study released by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), researchers indicate Congo’s rich natural resources could make the nation ” a powerhouse for African development.” However, there is a caveat, “provided multiple pressures on its natural resources are urgently addressed.” Since its beginnings, the UCBC community has been aware of this reality, developing programs […]
In Beni, a once prominent hub for coffee production, UCBC alumni and students are also aware of the resurgence of Congo’s coffee industry and its importance for stability in the region. … Read More →
On April 27, 2016, Congo Initiative, UCBC, and the local church, La Communauté Baptiste au Centre de l’Afrique (CEBCA), lost a pillar in the community, Mbusa Kamabu Thaluliba Manassé…. Read More →
“Change for me is no longer a dream,” says Kavugho Mulenze, a confident, 52 year-old mother of 7 living in Mangodomu, a small village in the town of Mangina, located 30 Km west of Beni. Kavugho narrates energetically how she grew from a simple farmer, constantly worried about the survival of her family, into an […]
Women’s Voices plays a crucial role in bringing discussions on gender equality and discrimination into conversation on UCBC’s campus and beyond…. Read More →
Download 2015 Annual Report
“I realized that my accomplishments in economics was just a gift I needed to use to help others. I felt called to teach, encourage, and help others manage their money in order to come out of poverty.” Butoto Mahinduzi traveled to Beni in 2010 to the surprise of his father, who manages a small restaurant, […]
Solar power has transformed the way we work, study, and worship at the UCBC campus. One of the areas most impacted is the library. Before solar energy, UCBC’s diesel generator was only capable of powering 4 or 5 computers, while the other 33 in the library lab sat unused. The power supply was also inconsistent […]
“The UCBC programs are feeding and nourishing us, and this is only possible through Congo Initiative supporters. Each individual student feels the impact of CI supporters, and it waters the seeds within us.” Nehemiah Kabucungu Babikana was not necessarily inclined to take on leadership roles before coming to UCBC. However, throughout his four years as […]
“I feel compassion to care for all the community at UCBC and feel very blessed to participate in the service-learning program.” Kavira Angélique Malikidogo, a leader and mother to many, is often called by her fellow UCBC students, “Mama Malikidogo.” This is in part because she is in fact a mother of 5 children, but also […]
“In Congo, it is important to have people who studied and know how to use technology. We are like the first generation of doctors, except in the field of technology.” Suzanne has lived across Congo, from Kinshasa in the west, to Goma, Butembo and now Beni in the east. She grew up with parents serving […]
