Democratic Republic of the Congo: Microloans to women in Goma

Humanist Mutual Aid Network supports Congo Connect and Thrive - a nonprofit that provides small loans to help women in the Democratic Republic of Congo start or grow their businesses. This can help families achieve financial stability, create jobs, and improve their overall livelihood. The women receive micro loans of $100; they pay back the loan at the rate of $1 day.

The women live in Goma - a city in the eastern DRC.  It is the largest city in North Kivu province with a population of 2 million. The city is very unstable - it was captured by Rwandan rebels during the M23 rebellion in 2012, retaken by the Congolese army, and then retaken by M23 in January 2025.