Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Centre Pour Handicapes Physiques, Goma, DRC

The Polus Center is working in partnership with the United States Government and other partners to provide a victim assistance program that improves human security and the socio-economic conditions of landmine survivors and victims of conflict in the Lake Kivu region.

Our Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo:

  • Prosthetic Services: improving the mobility of landmine and explosive remnants of war (ERW) survivors through training of prosthetic technicians and fabrication of prosthetic limbs.
  • Leadership Support: development and peer support associations among landmine/ERW survivors in the Lake Kivu Region.
  • Vocational Training: providing opportunities within the coffee industry for landmine/ERW survivors in the Eastern Congo Region of Lake Kivu, and in other industries for survivors for whom coffee is no longer an option.
  • Universal Design: building a coffee cupping lab and training center on the Island of Idjwi using principles of universal/inclusive design to increase training and employment opportunities for landmine/ERW survivors with limited mobility and raise accessibility awareness for people with disabilities