Who we are

The Urafiki Initiative is a student-led nonprofit that challenges the invisibility and oversimplification of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Conversations about Africa, when they happen at all, are often framed through stereotypes of violence, poverty, and instability rather than the lived experiences and resilience of the people. This initiative challenges this narrative by fostering human connection rather than distance sympathy. At its core, the Urafiki Initiative aims to create a pen pal program that connects girls from NYC to girls attending the Congo Peace School in the eastern region of the DRC. The word “Urafiki” means companionship or friendship in Swahili, one of the national languages spoken in the DRC, which embodies one of the main goals of the pen pal program. Through cultural exchange, students will learn about each other’s daily lives, traditions, education, and aspirations. Within our school and communities, we have raised awareness through fundraisers and educational events, such as Congo Week, which pairs historical context with storytelling. Rather than presenting the conflict in the DRC as isolated, we want to emphasize its roots in colonial exploitation, resource extraction, and global systems that continue to affect Black and African communities today.


Frequently Asked Questions

  • Be a penpal! If you fit the requirements, you could check our homepage with the link to a Google Form to sign up and be a penpal.

  • As of right now, we don’t have any volunteer opportunities but being a nonprofit organization, opportunities will be introduced. If you would like updates, sign up for our email list!

  • In order to be a penpal, you must be a female student attending a high school in New York City.

  • If you’re interested in being a volunteer or want to keep up with our penpal process, sign up for our email list on our contact page!

  • It was founded to ensure Congolese women have representation and support. By connecting girls in NYC to the DRC, it brings women together as a whole to lean on.

  • Nope! We are here to educate and promote. If you are interesting on informing yourself on the issues in the Congo, you can check our blog. For updates on new posts, you can sign up for our email list.

  • Yes, we are currently collaborating with Friends of the Congo and the Congo Peace School.

  • We want girls to eventually become ambassadors for the Congo Peace School under Action Kivu and create a broader, more sustainable movement across the East Coast.