by Kambale Musavuli
I greet you in the name of many Congolese youth who are seeking to ride the winds of change that blew from the African youth revolution in Soweto in 1976 to the streets of Cairo today, now making their way across the Atlantic to America, symbolized by the Occupy Wall Street movement.
As we embark upon the fourth annual Breaking The Silence: Congo Week, Oct. 16-22, 2011, I would like to bring you up to date on the global movement in support of the Congo.
Congo Week continues to grow both inside and outside of the Congo as people throughout the globe utilize Congo Week to articulate the challenges and potential that exist in the heart of Africa. Since we launched Congo Week in October 2008, over 60 countries and 300 university campuses and communities have joined us in the global call for justice for the people of Congo. Over 200 Congolese organizations reiterated the global appeal for justice, accountability and an end to the impunity by calling for international action on the recommendations of the United Nations Mapping Exercise Report.
Your role in Breaking the Silence by demanding justice for the people is making a difference. More people are becoming informed, educated and engaged. Your actions, no matter how small, are strengthening the resolve of the youth and others inside the Congo who are waging a courageous fight, day and night to bring about peace, stability and human dignity. Knowing that they have the support of people of goodwill throughout the globe makes a tremendous difference.
The key teaching tool for Congo Week IV is Friends of the Congo’s short documentary, “Crisis in the Congo: Uncovering the Truth.” Since its launch, over 100,000 people have viewed the film on YouTube and over 1,000 people have downloaded it to view or screen in their homes and communities. Youth throughout the Congo are using the film as a teaching tool during Congo Week; we encourage you to do the same by downloading the film here: http://congojustice.org.
Youth and others inside the Congo are waging a courageous fight, day and night to bring about peace, stability and human dignity. Knowing that they have the support of people of goodwill throughout the globe makes a tremendous difference.
The youth of the Congo, who represent the majority of the people, are encouraging you to continue to support our fight for justice and human dignity. In the past year, our youth partners have made great strides in strengthening their capacity in the quest to bring about peace and stability in the Congo. We encourage you to participate in our special contest to support the youth of the Congo and their pursuit for social change: http://congoweek.org/congo-week-fundraiser.html.
Key organizers in Japan, Australia, France, Kenya, South Africa, Brazil, Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and many other countries are joining with our partners inside the Congo to call for justice for the people. Organize or participate in an event or activity for Congo Week on your university campus, in your home, religious institution, community center or any other venue in your community. Should you be in New York during Congo Week, join us for Congo in Harlem – a week of film screenings, performances, panel discussions, exhibitions, tributes and special events highlighting Congolese cultures and its people’s contributions to the global community: http://congoinharlem.org.
This is an historic opportunity for you to be a part of the global movement to bring an end to what is the greatest humanitarian crisis at the dawn of the 21st century and the deadliest conflict since World War II. Seize the moment and become a part of a noble pursuit for justice and human dignity in the heart of Africa, my home, the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kambale Musavuli, a Congolese native, is spokesperson and student coordinator for Friends of the Congo. He can be reached at kambale@friendsofthecongo.org. You can follow him on twitter @kambale and visit him on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/kambalemusavuli.
Remember to post your event on the events calendar: http://congoweek.org/component/events/
Share the Congo Week promotional video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0AWeWvMkHk
Sign up for Congo Week: http://congoweek.org/participation-form.html
Download Congo Week Organizers’ Tool Kit and Materials: http://congoweek.org/downloads.html
Support the Congo Week Benefit Concert Oct. 22 in College Park, Md.: http://www.congoweek.org/congo-week-benefit-concert.html
Participate in the CELL-OUT on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2011. The CELL-OUT is a digital moment of silence for the people of the Congo and the usage of our cell phones to mobilize support for the people in their pursuit of social change: http://congoweek.org/the-cell-out.html
