Irish Community Empowerment Group (IRCEG)
The Irish Community Empowerment Group is a not for profit organisation with a focus on development and empowerment of the Irish, Congolese and other African minority groups living in Ireland.
We stand to assist in the integration of Congolese immigrants in Irish society and to empower individuals and communities to work towards the sustainable alleviation of poverty and its related causes in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
IRCEG works in partnership with grassroots organisation in Ireland and in the D.R. Congo to build organisational capacity, to be reliable and self sustainable, and to be of assistance in the implementation of their own projects.
The mission of IRCEG is to influence the development of effective pathways to self-sufficiency and sustainable development for communities in Ireland, with the capacity to effect change in the DRC.
Country Information
Country Facts
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is located in Central Africa and is the third largest country by area in the African continent. The population is estimated at over 66 million, making it the fourth most populous nation in Africa. Established as a Belgian colony in 1908, the Republic of the Congo gained its independence on June 30, 1960. Post independence, the country was led by Joseph Mobuto, who renamed the country Zaire. Ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees in 1994 from fighting in Rwanda and Burundi, led in May 1997 to the toppling of the Mobuto regime by a rebellion backed by Rwanda and Uganda and fronted by Laurent Kabila. The present head of state is Joseph Kabila, son of Laurent, who rose to power in 2003.
As many as 250 ethnic groups have been identified and named in DR Congo. The most numerous people are the Kongo, Luba, and Mongo. Although seven hundred local languages and dialects are spoken, communication is made easier by the widespread use of French and intermediary languages such as Kongo, Tshiluba, Swahili, and Lingala. Christianity is the majority religion in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, followed by about 80% of the population.
The remaining 20% of the population practices Islam or traditional beliefs. The culture of the Democratic Republic of the Congo reflects the diversity of its many different ethnic groups. Soukous is a form of music developed in the Congo by combining traditional instruments with Caribbean and South American influences. The Congo is also known for its art; traditional art includes masks and wooden statues. The cuisine of the Congo varies widely from region to region but cassava is a staple food. Notable dishes include moambe, fufu, chikwanga, ndakala, and sombe.