"We Have a Voice, We Have Phones.” Young Leaders Mobilize Against Ebola in Kivu
- Neelley Hicks
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Young leaders in Kivu are using WhatsApp and their own community networks to raise awareness about Ebola and mobilize people to protect their families despite limited resources and international support.
Commentary by Pascal Kahule Muderhwa, Goma, DR Congo
After witnessing for ourselves that Ebola virus disease is a real threat and not simply a rumor, and after listening to health officials in the Greater North Kivu region, we became aware of the danger that is once again threatening our population.
Rev. Neelley Hicks, Executive Director of Harper Hill Global, who carries the people of the Greater Kivu region deeply in her heart, also helped us understand the urgency of this situation.
After everything our population has already experienced, including the consequences of violence and the genocide-like atrocities suffered by Congolese people, especially those in Kivu, we cannot simply remain silent in the face of another threat.
Ebola virus disease is now at the doorstep of our communities, while we see very limited support from the international community, the sub-region, and even our own government.
We therefore asked ourselves a simple question: How can we help, even when we have very few resources?
We do not have the necessary materials, and we do not have easy access to traditional media such as radio and television. But we have our phones and social media, especially WhatsApp.
We decided to use WhatsApp groups to raise awareness among the population. We began by sharing three Ebola animations provided by Rev. Neelley to remind people of one essential fact: Ebola is real. It is not a joke and it is not a rumor.
In less than a week, we shared these messages in approximately 50 WhatsApp groups. Here in the Democratic Republic of Congo, it is common for a WhatsApp group to have several hundred members. We therefore estimate that we have already been able to reach more than 30,000 people, directly or indirectly.
We also encouraged members of these groups to share the messages with their own contacts. We realized that even without financial resources, we can use our phones to spread information and help save lives.
Young people must raise their voices to fight Ebola.
We also want to contribute to Rev. Neelley Hicks' efforts by helping translate her book* intended for churches, so that church leaders in the DRC can be informed and encouraged to mobilize their communities in the fight against this epidemic.
Today, in Butembo, nurses and doctors are on the front lines, fighting to respond to this Ebola outbreak, sometimes with very limited support. Many of them are already exposed, and some have themselves been affected.
So, who will speak for this population? Who will carry their voice?
Too often, we have been left to face these challenges on our own.
That is why we are making an urgent appeal: before continuing with other activities, let us make the fight against Ebola a priority. Every person who receives accurate information can protect their family. Every message shared can reach someone who needs it. Every action matters.
We may not have many resources, but we have a voice, we have phones, and above all, we have the determination to act.
Together, let us make the voice of the young people of Kivu heard and mobilize ourselves against Ebola.
Every gift makes a difference. Whether you give $25, $100, $500, or more, your generosity helps deliver life-saving Ebola prevention messages to families in some of the most remote communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Your support equips local communicators with the tools they need to reach villages, broadcast trusted health information, and replace fear and misinformation with knowledge that saves lives. Together, we are protecting communities—one conversation, one village, and one life at a time.
*Harper Hill Global will soon release an Ebola prevention guide for churches called "Ebola: Protecting the Living While Honoring the Deceased," available in French and Swahili. Subscribe for updates.
Pascal Kahule Muderhwa is a Harper Hill Global correspondent based in Goma, DR Congo.
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