A forest planner from Ghent has planted 10,240 hectares of forest. And this is just the beginning.

Because that’s where one euro makes the biggest difference. In Kwilu Province, €2 is enough to plant a tree that will grow in 12 months, and a single month’s salary can feed an entire family. The problems you hear about—instability, corruption, the war in the east—are very real. But that is precisely why no one else is fighting this battle here, and why it is essential that we do.

Idiofa is located about 1,500 km from the conflict zone in eastern Congo. There, the fighting centers on mineral resources; Kwilu has none, which protects it from armed groups and the greed associated with the mining industry. It is one of the most peaceful provinces in the country, and we have been working there continuously for fifteen years.

The people who make their living from it. With more than 2,500 jobs created locally, Faja Lobi is by far the region’s largest employer. The forest, the nursery, the cassava processing plant, and the schools form the heart of the local economy. This gives the project a level of protection that no contract could ever provide: the community defends it because it belongs to them.

We keep the project clear of any interference. Every expense is traceable and monitored; approximately 80% of our funds go directly toward local salaries. Furthermore, your donation will never pass directly through the Congo: it is paid to the King Baudouin Foundation in Brussels, which issues your tax receipt and releases the funds upon presentation of supporting documents. Institutional partners such as the World Resources Institute, Sanofi, CO2logic, and Ghent University conducted a rigorous due diligence review before committing to work with us—you’re in good hands.

That’s a legitimate question, one we’re often asked. Day-to-day management at Idiofa is already in local hands, under the leadership of Zacky Madilo, who oversees operations on site. This transition is entirely intentional: 36 young people from the region are currently receiving scholarships, 47 have already graduated, and the top performers are joining our team. The ultimate goal is to have a 100% Congolese organization that no longer needs a Belgian founder.