This backgrounder contains historical, political, and cultural information intended to cultivate a general understanding of Congolese who are arriving to the U.S. The ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is complex and spans decades.
Switchboard produced this backgrounder to help the following audiences provide culturally appropriate Cultural Orientation (CO) and other services to newly arrived Congolese:
- Initial resettlement providers (IRPs, formerly resettlement agencies)
- Local resettlement providers (LRPs)
- Other service providers
The information provided is intended as guidance and does not represent the strengths and challenges of all Congolese refugees. Resettlement staff can adapt their services to the individual needs of their clients.
