How much do you know about DR Congo?

The Democratic Republic of Congo. What do you know about this country? It is not under the spotlight of our global news. It is not studied in the history classes of our academic curriculums. However, this is the country where the deadliest wars worldwide since World War II took place in. The most recent war, known as the Second Congo War or the Great War of Africa, claimed the lives of 5.4 million people from 1998 to 2008. What drove this war? Conflict materials essential for the electronic and mobile phone industry, among other things. Yes that’s right, there’s a very good chance that some of the materials that the laptop or cell phone you are using right now can be traced back to DR Congo. 

Indeed, everything in this world can be connected in one way or other. But is our humanity connected with those people who are still suffering in deep poverty of this war-torn country? Let’s take a moment to remember the needs of the less fortunate ones in this world. Such as this little boy growing up terrified by what have happened to his country, and all he has as toys are scraps from the landfill.

不是太多人知道剛果共和國，國際新聞或非洲資訊，他都不是主角，在學校課堂或各樣媒體，都少有提及。他自獨立以來，從殖民政府接棒以後，好像再沒有建設，整個國家都十分「破爛」，是眼見的景象，也是民生、民情的實況。

剛果土地上連連戰爭，就以第二次戰役（1998-2008）計算，死亡人數有五百四十萬！他們為何長期戰亂，為何沒有調和部隊，為何死傷那麼嚴重？一般人都以為是內戰，各部族的不和，然而列強對這地各樣資源、礦產的垂涎，才是真正的陰謀。他們出產的鈳鉭鐵礦（coltan），正是電腦、手機必需的原料，混亂的局勢有助「趁火打刧」。事實如何？

我所見的實況：人民生活十分艱難，一家大小難得三餐溫飽，多少的孤兒？多少的街童？明搶！當面的貪！各自為政！金錢利益就是法律！那些在此取利的列國、企業商家，可否留一點好處給他們的人民？

看這孩子害怕的目光，就連對著鏡頭也不知道發生什麼事，看他怯怯地把自己藏埋，手抱從廢物做成的玩意，你有怎樣的聯想？

最近剛果爆發暴亂，因為在任總統不願依法例離職，然而沒有為國為民的領袖，整個國家沒有重建的一天。剛收到的消息說，總統決定下台；然而剛果的明天將會如何？

對你而言，這是遙不可及的事嗎？我在計劃八月再探剛果。

Words: Violin Chan & Joe Lee
Photo: Violin Chan

His Gaze (II)

Words & Photos: Violin Chan          English Translation: Joe Lee

On my way to visit the orphanage that Benny had been sponsoring, I tried to picture in my mind what the environment would be like. I also tried to imagine how the children would behave when they saw us as the "boss". As we were approaching the destination in the car, the children were already waiting outside. The building exterior looked average; just like other buildings in the area. However, as we stepped inside, we saw almost nothing besides walls. There were no beds and other furnitures, but just some plates and tarp on the unfinished floor. The scene was a lot worse than what I had expected.

As for the children, they only had one meal per day (and I believe that meal must be very minimal). To make matters worse, they didn't go to school at all. I wanted to know why the situation was so terrible. I asked many questions. In the end, I kept thinking to myself, "Why not go to school? How do they spend their time? How could they do nothing day after day? How could they live a life without arrangements or goals to work toward?" All the boys had a blank stare in their eyes… because there weren't anything for them to look forward to.

他的眼神（二）

去探望Benny一直支持的兒童之家。心中有一點準備，想像是怎樣的環境；孩子們也許比我有更多的猜測和想象，因為他們以為我 們是「boss」。車駛入小路，遠遠已看見孩子們在屋外等待。房子的外觀還可以，但裡面一無所有，沒有傢俱，只有少許盤和 碟，真的是「家徒四壁」。與孩子們逐個傾談，驚訝地發現他們每天只吃一餐（我相信每餐一點都不豐富，分量也不怎樣足夠），而且沒有上學。 我問他們，問照應他們的大人，問Benny；最後的問題，好像是在問自己，因為心中盤算著：「為什麼不上學？整天作什麼？怎樣消磨時間？什麼都不做？怎 可以？怎樣耐得住？為什麼不安排？為什麼不找點幹活？……」

難怪男孩子們都有茫 茫然的眼神！不知期待什麼的眼神！呆呆的目光和表情！

Lulumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2014.

Lulumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2014.

His Gaze (I)

When I was in Congo, it was hard for me to go out and take photos of the people there. The tourism industry has yet to be developed and the Congolese are very sensitive to foreigners taking photographs. They fear that we want to exploit them by publicizing their miserable conditions.

In fact, my only desire is to raise awareness of these issues so that more people can care for the orphans and families suffering in poverty.

One day, we went with Benny (a Congolese-Canadian accompanying us) to the market. He went outside to buy grocery while we looked from inside the car. We saw a few street kids selling plastic bags for only about 1 cent each. This was their means of surviving. Suddenly, one of them noticed that I was looking at him. He then approached me to ask for money. We did not say a word but from looking at his eyes, I could sense his childhood innocence, which is sadly missing in most other street kids. In the end, I gave him a little snack. He held it firmly in his hands, as I held this experience firmly in my heart.

他的眼神（一）

在剛果的日子，每天都外出探訪和視察，卻不容易拍照，因為當地還未發展旅遊業，他們對外國人向他們拍照非常敏感，誤以為我們要暴露他們的艱難生活，或想對他們不利！

其實心中很想將剛果生活的實際情況帶回來，讓更多人可以關心當地貧苦家庭及孤兒。

一天，隨Benny到市場，他們下車買水果，我們只能留在車上，卻見到幾個街童留連穿插於買菜市民中，兜售膠袋，價錢很低，美元1仙，這是他們為生的一種方法。忽然，有一個街童留意到我正看著他，他用手勢向我表示要錢，我們無語溝通，我心中沒有一點討厭，看見他的眼神，沒有一般街童的詭詐，仍有一份孩子的童真，只是他真的沒有，想找一點幫助。最後只遞給他一點小吃，見他緊緊握在手，而我的心頭也一樣緊緊。

Photos by Violin. Lulumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2014.

Photos by Violin. Lulumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2014.