Democratic Republic of Congo

 The Democratic Republic of Congo is home to areas of intermittent war and peace, of brutal armed fighters and fearless human rights activists, of escalating poaching and diverse wildlife, of abject poverty and enormous wealth, of deadly elements and spectacular natural beauty.

Having endured unthinkable rates of sexual violence during Congo’s ongoing conflict in the east, Congolese women and girls across the country have organized themselves into civil society groups to demand peace, equality, and respect for their rights. Thousands of forward-thinking men and boys have joined them in this effort, setting the stage for sweeping change. Walk the Congo aims to amplify their collective calls for peace, rally ordinary citizens across Congo and around the world to support their burgeoning movement, and harness this attention to ignite a revolution.

The struggles faced by Congolese women will emerge as a dominant theme during the historic journey. These struggles will be embodied by Aline, who will emerge as a central figure during the trek. Born in eastern Congo and having experienced the conflict there first hand, Aline is a manifestation of the hope and resilience the expedition aims to showcase. By being the first Congolese woman to complete an expedition of this magnitude, Aline will serve as a role model for women and girls across Congo; and will inspire citizens around the world to support the Congo women’s and peace movements.

The strength of the existing women’s and peace movements will be further exposed by the women and girls the team meets along the way: ordinary people whose tenacity in the face of extraordinary hardships will inspire the adventurers to keep moving forward. The team will hear the stories of unsung Congolese heroines of the same incredible bravery as Malala Yousafzai: Mothers will speak of their daily battle to make ends meet in their impoverished villages. Girls will describe the challenges they face in attending class in areas prone to armed conflict. Survivors of rape will shed light on the scope of the abuses Congolese women and girls experience. As these women share their stories, viewers will be rallied to join an online community in solidarity with Congo, sign petitions, and donating to Congolese civil society groups—actions that can be taken in real-time to support the Congolese peace movement.

By plunging deep into this beautiful yet troubled nation, Walk the Congo will provide a channel through which Congo’s brave women will share their stories, dreams, and ambitions with the world, lifting a banner to which civic leaders and activists—both Congolese and international—can rally.