Franciscan spirituality

SOPRODE, an organization working to protect childrens rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo, integrates environmental concerns into its social action, convinced that the health of children and communities is closely linked to the health of ecosystems. In South Kivu Province, SOPRODE supports rural communities in the fight against deforestation and soil erosion through community reforestation activities and the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices. The organization has already carried out three pilot restoration projects in the territories of Kabare and Walungu, in partnership with local religious leaders, planting over 80,000 fruit and agroforestry trees on land owned by parishes and faith-based schools. The organization also aim to expand their work into the territory of Kalehe and to strengthen the capacity of religious actors to integrate restoration into their missions. The organization is highly interested in developing context-specific, faith-based approaches to restore land and strengthen community resilience. Demographic pressure and recurring land conflicts, especially concerning community lands;.