Volontaires des Pays des Grands Lacs (VPGL)

Qui sommes-nous

Volontaires des Pays des Grands Lacs (VPGL) in acronym, is an organization under Congolese law founded in 2011 in the town of Uvira by volunteers from all areas in order to try to respond to the problems of local communities in the Great Lakes countries in general and the South Kivu province in particular.

The areas of intervention of VPGL can be summarized as:
• The promotion of peace & peaceful cohabitation, democracy and good governance;
• The promotion and defense of human rights, monitoring & advocacy and the fight against sexual and gender-based violence and;
• Community development through advocacy and implementation of projects within the framework of economic, social and cultural rights.

Mission
Contribute to the promotion of peace and respect for human rights with a view to sustainable development and international solidarity in the world.

Vision
Ensure the emergence of a society where human rights and peace are guaranteed for development and social well-being.

Activities:
• Monitoring of conflicts and human rights violations,
• Legal support & judicial assistance and advocacy in favor of people who are victims of human rights violations and abuses as well as people who are victims of conflicts,
• We carried out advocacy actions on good governance, economic, social and cultural rights as well as collective rights in favor of the most vulnerable people,
• Raising awareness of peace, peaceful cohabitation and respect for human rights, democracy, good governance (citizen participation, transparency, accountability, gender, civil and political rights, etc.),
• Raising awareness of good hygiene and community health practices.
• Organization and celebration of the International Day of Peace
• Defend the rights of the most vulnerable and marginalized people,
• Observe, alert and protect the environment as well as the illicit exploitation of natural resources
• Participate in the various meetings and all other activities of the SYDHE network
• Carry out advocacy actions with decision-makers on economic, social and cultural rights (DESC) including access to drinking water
• Purification of the water of Lake Tanganyika and the Kalimabenge, Mulongwe and Kavimvira rivers using water purifiers in order to prevent water-borne diseases
• Free care for 220 children aged 0 to 5 years victims of water-borne diseases in the Mapendo Medical Center
• Raising awareness of elements of armed groups, idle youth at risk, vulnerable women and all populations of the middle plateaus of Lemera and Ndolera in Uvira territory to the DDR/RR process to contribute to the reduction of community violence in the province of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo,
• Support for 20 young ex-combatants, 30 unemployed young people at risk and 30 vulnerable women in apprenticeships in trades within appropriate training centers in trades of their choice and accessible in the Uvira territory,
• Distribution of trade kits, seeds and agricultural inputs as well as animals for breeding to 20 young ex-combatants, 30 idle young people at risk and 30 vulnerable women to facilitate them in creating their income-generating activities with a view to empowering them in socio-economic responsibility,

Claude Habamungu Mihigo is the President of the Board of Directors of Volontaires des Pays des Grands Lacs (VPGL).

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.