CONGO GREAT LAKES INTIATIVE

Keep My land Alive

 

​

“Keep My land Alive” is a project that was designed by our members, especially those from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who wanted people to learn more about the relationship between British and the Congolese during the age of African exploration and colonisation in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries.

 

Through this project, young and old alike have come together to learn about, share and celebrate the unique and rich heritage between the UK and the DRC, two countries which at first light may not appear to have much in common, but whose common history and heritage are now, thankfully, coming to light.

It is in this perspective that we seek to expand this project and collaborate with other internationally recognized institutions to dig deeper into these issues.

 

“Keep My Land Alive” has been an exciting and rewarding project.  Through it, participants have learned about the works of the British explorers who helped discover and map the Congo, such as David Livingston and Henry Stanley.  In addition, participants also learned about other British citizens, such as Edmund Morel and Roger Casement, who worked tirelessly to put a stop to the atrocities committed in the Congo under the regime of King Leopold II.  This is part of our heritage that should be recognised and shared.

 

Congo Great lakes Initiative is very grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for their full financial support to this project.  In addition, I would also like to thank Mr Roger Kitchen, our mentor on this project. And, finally, I’d like to thank all those who contributed to this project in any capacity, including: CGLI Chairperson, Jean Leon Ngwamah, the project team, and all our volunteers and others who have contributed anonymously to the project of this project. It is our success and we should celebrate it

altogether!

 

 

Project Aims

 

1. Participation: This project engages people from the DRC and the UK to participate through volunteering and taking part in all activities that will be held in this project. Volunteers will actively participate in producing learning materials.

2. Conservation: There is, though, a strong link between the Congo history and the UK that should be put out there as heritage. We want to participate in conserving this heritage by producing DVDs and a booklet. They will be kept in libraries, museums, the Royal Geographical Society archives and websites. Our surveys and research on the topic will help people to understand their heritage better. All training in the project related to conservation will reinforce the conservation aim.

3. Learning: Through trainings, workshops, exhibitions and DVDs and a booklet, we want people of the Congo and of the UK, in particular, and others from other backgrounds to learn about the heritage between the Congo and the UK and how the relationship has worked so far. This would be also an opportunity to train people on learning resources, documenting intangible heritage and managing them. People would become more aware of participatory approaches to heritage.