ARE you saddened by seeing constant global atrocities, without knowing of any way to help? Thankfully, there’s a local organisation doing their bit to ensure the community remains engaged, educated and aware of ways to help those in need.
Voice for Silent People is a non-profit organisation that assists people in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo, who are victims of corruption, conflict and violence. They promote justice and the human dignity of all people, through community engagement and ‘Advocacy, Education and Assistance.’
The president of Voice for Silent People, Jean Marie Mupenda uses the term “moral genocide” when he talks about the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“It is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and one of the richest in terms of mineral wealth and arable land, but it is also one of the poorest,” he says.
“Years of violence, corruption, abuse and conflict has led to moral genocide, where the perpetrators destroyed not only lives, but the moral structures which enabled people to live in harmony in the past.
“When I grew up, offences such as murder, rape and paedophilia were very rare. The moral compass of the whole community is destroyed when adults and children are obliged to witness these horrible crimes on a daily basis. A whole generation has grown up with no moral guidelines.”
Voice for Silent People hopes that educating people about the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo will help bring about change. To help educate locally, Voice for Silent People are holding a launch event at 7:30pm on Thursday, May 30 at the Monsignor Jeffrey Centre, behind St Brendan’s Church, 121 Knight Street, Shepparton.
To find out how you can help, call Damien on 0438 088 403, or Jean Marie on 0432 405 572. For further information, visit their website at www.voiceforsilentpeople.org or check them out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/VFSP1
