Our Story

History of PCR

The PCR Foundation was founded in South-Kivu in 2006, by Samuel Muderwha and his wife Faida Mutula Rachel, both originally from the Eastern provinces of DRC. Their vision was to create an environment in which their countrymen and women could determine their own destiny, where the creation of a better future was not just a dream, but offered potential for real and sustainable development.

They were all the more motivated to spread the principles of non-violence and self-determination after training as mediators and peacebuilders in Nairobi and Cyprus between the years 2008 and 2013.

Their greatest motivation was to bridge the divisions caused by the war and restore the neighborhood, focusing on rebuilding trust in each other that had been destroyed by the war and recreating the former hospitality that characterized this region.
How we started

How PCR Got Started

A snapshot of our experience, journey, partnerships, and milestones as an organization.

PCR Foundation Created

2006
Bukavu, D.R. Congo
Motivated and supported by Prof. David Silvera, a professor and mediator at Tel Aviv University, Samuel and Faida laid the foundations for the foundation in 2006 and officially launched and registered the organization. Prof Silvera's commitment extended so far that he signed up as a co-founder.

Mediation Trainings of PCR Founders

2008 - 2013
Nairobi, Kenya & Cyprus
Samuel and Faida were trained as mediators in Nairobi and Cyprus. The stay abroad and the intense training helped them to transfer their expertise to the PCR Foundation and develop qualified, targeted programmes.

Partnership with Australian Birthing Kits Foundation

2009 - 2012
Australia
A 3-year collaboration with Birthing Kits Foundation on a maternal health program focused on working with local hospitals in South Kivu. The initiative was to provide hospitals with birthing equipment (birthing kits) and cover high medical bills for women who required an extended stay (up to several months) in the hospital, but would not have been able to afford this by themselves.

Partnership with The Parenting Class

2010 - Present
United States
Through this cooperation, led by Joyce Victor, continuous contributions are being made to programs for single mothers.

Partnership with Strongest Oak Foundation

2013 - 2017
Canada
As part of this 4-year cooperation, The Strongest Oak Foundation sponsored several young people from the D.R. Congo, enabling them to finance their studies at a foreign university.

The organization also made a significant contribution to enable young single mothers to receive vocational and entrepreneurial training in order to achieve financial independence and to be able to build a life for themselves and provide sufficient support for their children.

Cooperation with Golda Meir MASHAV Carmel International Training Center

2015 - 2022
Haifa, Israel
In the form of scholarships, selected members of the PCR Foundation received intense training in conflict resolution in cooperation with the Golda Meir MASHAV Carmel International Training Center. The training focused on different areas, e.g. combating violence against women and children and combating gender based violence.

Partnership with Vrije University (Vrije Universiteit)

2017 - 2020
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Joint project with Vrije Universiteit lasted for 3 years. The project included on-site training, with members of the university traveling to Bukavu to hold free sponsored training on conflict management, trauma healing, basics of mediation, gender sensibility, among others.

The entire initiative was sponsored by NUFFIC , a division of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Cooperation with Richmond Peace Education Center

2018
Richmond, Virgina | United States
With the help of the center, a number of young people from the Democratic Republic of Congo were trained in conflict resolution so that they could act as multipliers to help other young people in the DRC and provide them with further training at the Richmond Peace Education Center.

Training on Non-Violence of the Founders

2018 - 2019
Center for Nonviolence | University of Rhode Island, New Jersey | United Sates
In cooperation with Prof. Paul Bueno and the Centre for Nonviolence at the University of Rhode Island U.S., Samuel and Faida attended courses to study the principles of nonviolence and nonviolent communication and to incorporate these skills into the work of the PCR Foundation, and through this collaboration Samuel already presented and sharing several time to the International students who studying Master-Degree on Non-Violence and Peacebuilding studies at Rhode Island University.

Partnership with AFLATOUN International

2021 - Present
Netherlands
This partnership with AFLATOUN International includes collaboration in initiatives focused on social and financial education for teenagers and youth (aged between 6 and 24).

Partnership with Mirella Kreder (Integrated Consulting & Mediation)

2021 - Present
Germany / Czech Republic
Cooperation with Mirella Kreder from Integrated Consulting and Mediation arose from the worldwide network of mediators and peacemakers.

It includes support in the form of training (including on-site training on dealing with strong emotions), raising awareness of the organization

Partnership with Asian Rural Institute Japan (ARI)

2022 - Present
Japan
The ARI Institute in Japan, in cooperation with the PCR Foundation, trains young people from the D.R. Congo for one year in conflict resolution and leadership as well as specific agricultural skills, offered in the form of a scholarship. Since food shortages are a major source of conflict within the D.R. Congo, training young people in agricultural cultivation helps reduce this source of conflict by creating better agricultural conditions.

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Our Impact

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We strive to establish a society where people and communities are empowered with the skills to overcome conflict and take charge of their destiny.
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+243 993 463 279
+243 823 705 317
info@pcr-foundation.org
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