Why Angola?

The voiceless masses--especially the children--are RISE's greatest concern. A country rich with vast reserves of oil and diamonds, Angola has been ravaged by 27 years of civil war, and while the few prosper, a generation has been born in suffering, lives in suffering and will die in suffering. The infrastructure lies in ruins. Two thirds have no access to clean drinking water. There are no medicines. Rural schools have virtually disappeared; an entire generation has grown up unable to read or write.

And yet in the midst of the ruins, a powerful and revitalizing spirit rises. In April of 2002, the fighting ended and peace reopened the country. Refugees have returned home and there is a palpable commitment to rebuild. The time for healing, the time for rebuilding calls for the partnership and involvement of the world community.

• Portuguese colony for 500 years
• Slave Trade
• Gained independence in 1975
• 1975-Civil war broke out between
  Soviet-backed MPLA government
  forces and US-backed UNITA forces
• Thousands fled to refugee camps in
  Namibia and Zambia
• 2002-MPLA and UNITA signed
  cease-fire agreement
• Post-war rebuilding efforts began
  
  Source: Human Development Index 2007/2008

• Landmines outnumber people
• Estimated half of the children are not
  in school
• Population:
     16.5 million, over 47% under age 15
• Human development index: Angola
  ranks 162 our of 177
• Highest under-five mortality rate: 26%
• Malaria - largest single cause of child
  mortality
• Majority of Angola's population lives in
  poverty
• Life expectancy: 42 years