Each February, in partnership with Theo Chocolate, we host a fundraiser for two incredible organizations helping the people of eastern Congo to thrive.

The eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has long been plagued with violence but throughout it all, the Congolese people have persevered and shown incredible resilience. All proceeds from Chocolate for Congo go to two organizations doing important work in the Democratic Republic of Congo - Action Kivu and Eastern Congo Initiative.

This year we’re doing things a little differently. See below for details!

For the 2024 Chocolate for Congo, Arden, one of Portland’ premier restaurants located in the Pearl, is generously hosting a benefit dinner. Chefs Gabriel Rucker and Erik Van Kley will collaborate on a special 5-course reunion dinner, featuring a chocolate dessert prepared by former pastry chef and Never Again Coalition founder Lauren Fortgang. On the beverage side, former Little Bird wine and cocktail veterans will plot out optional pairings (both alcoholic and non). The Chocolate For Congo dinner will be the first time that the entire Little Bird Bistro team has reunited, all for a good cause. There are only 30 seats available for the 5-course dinner on Thursday, February 22nd at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $150, excluding gratuity, and available HERE! - The dinner has sold out.

Even thought the dinner has sold out, we still have two ways you can support!
1. Pie Spot, a local bakery that is a long time supporter of Chocolate for Congo, is featuring a pie this month with 10% of sales going to us! The pie is called My Heart Will Go On. It’s red velvet chocolate chip with cream cheese frosting and heart sprinkles. Please stop into one of their two locations this month and try one!
2. You can make a donation to either Eastern Congo Initiative or Action Kivu at the links below. Theo has generously provided chocolate bars for anyone making a donation. You can pick up your complementary chocolate bar at Flor Wines located at 825 NW Glisan Street in Portland, OR.

DONATE

learn more

Action Kivu: Action Kivu partners with ABFEC, a Congolese owned and operated non-profit. They provide direct assistance to survivors of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo through projects including the Congo Peace School, entrepreneurial training, and regenerative farming rooted in sustainable living, peace and equality. They advocate community-based initiatives and sustainable solutions developed by members of the Congolese community that provide pathways for them to be agents for peace as they create a thriving society for all. Their entrepreneurial programs and the Congo Peace School are located in Mumosho, eastern Congo.

Led by Action Kivu’s Founding Director Amani Matabaro, the Congo Peace School is a one-of-a-kind school serving 523 students, providing a life changing education rooted in peace and nonviolence. It is a place of healing in a country decimated by war and corruption, where vulnerable children are fed nutritious daily meals and supported by trauma-informed staff. It is an investment in a peaceful future, where students learn computer skills in a lab powered by solar energy, and receive training in sustainable agriculture. It is a model for gender equity and equality, where girls and boys enroll in equal numbers, teachers receive equal pay, and students learn together about the rights of women and girls. It is a revolutionary school in a post-colonial country, providing the space and resources for students to foster their curiosity and ask questions, forming their own theories, and receiving the tools to make this vision of peace a reality.

Eastern Congo Initiative: Driven by the belief that locally-lead approaches are the key to a brighter future, Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI) works shoulder to shoulder with communities in Congo as they build health, freedom, and prosperity for life. ECI cultivates public and private partnerships, combined with advocacy, to create new opportunities for the people of eastern Congo. 

ECI envisions an eastern Congo vibrant with abundant opportunities for economic and social development, where a robust civil society can flourish through 4 key pillars: collaborative grantmaking to increase services across sectors; the transformative Asili model providing healthcare, water, and energy in a way that will last for years to come without ongoing philanthropy; strengthened global markets to grow the region’s economy; and powerful advocacy to increase international attention and support in Congo’s most needed areas.

We’re incredibly grateful to our partner, Theo Chocolate. Life gets more delicious when you add chocolate, and truly delicious chocolate starts with high quality ingredients and leaves a positive impact. Theo’s mission is to create a more beautiful, compassionate, and enduring world by responsibly making delicious and inspiring products for everyone. It’s why they’re committed to using organic and fair trade ingredients – starting with the cocoa beans. As a leading organic and fair trade chocolate maker, Theo Chocolate has proved that you can find success by doing things differently, and that everyone in the bean to bar process can thrive. Theo Chocolate product directly supports the livelihood of cocoa farmers and their family members in eastern Congo, enabling them to send their children to school and reinvest in their communities.

PAST EVENTS

Questions? Contact us at info@neveragaincoalition.org