Eastern Congo Initiative

Affleck began to explore the possibility of becoming more actively involved in philanthropy in 2007 and was drawn to New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof's coverage of human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ben-affleck-talks-chocolate-bars-as-sustainable-aid-in-congo/|title=Ben Affleck talks chocolate bars as sustainable aid in Congo|date=October 9, 2012|access-date=October 8, 2014|work=CBS News}} During two 2008 trips, Affleck reported on the humanitarian crisis for ABC News Nightline{{cite news |first=Katie |last=Escherich |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Story?id=5214496&page=1 |title=Ben Affleck's Journey Through the Congo |access-date=June 30, 2008 |date=June 23, 2008|work=ABC News}} and directed a short film, Gimme Shelter, for the UN Refugee Agency.{{cite web|url=http://www.unhcr.org/4948ce084.html|title=UNHCR - Ben Affleck video unveiled for UNHCR "Gimme Shelter" campaign|work=UNHCR|access-date=October 8, 2014}} He also spoke at the Combating Global Poverty event during the 2008 Democratic National Convention.{{cite web|url=http://fora.tv/2008/08/27/Combating_Global_Poverty_Panel_Discussion|title=Combating Global Poverty Panel Discussion|work=FORA.tv|access-date=October 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014170544/http://fora.tv/2008/08/27/Combating_Global_Poverty_Panel_Discussion|archive-date=October 14, 2014|url-status=usurped}} In 2009, he wrote an essay for Time,Chi, Paul. (February 16, 2009) [http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20259408,00.html Ben Affleck Urges Hope in Eastern Congo - Good Deeds, Ben Affleck] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517205620/http://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C%2C20259408%2C00.html |date=2014-05-17 }}. People.com. Retrieved on June 5, 2014. spoke at the Global Leadership Awards,{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/20272.html|title=Clinton named Global Trailblazer|website=Politico |date=20 March 2009 |access-date=October 8, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.vitalvoices.org/node/1368|title=Ben Affleck Moved by Victims' Testimonies - Vital Voices|access-date=October 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014143946/http://www.vitalvoices.org/node/1368|archive-date=October 14, 2014|url-status=dead}} and served as an executive producer of the HBO documentary film Reporter, which focused on Kristof's work in the Congo.{{cite web|url=http://www.parkrecord.com/county/ci_11505297|title=Actor joins panel discussion about Africa|access-date=October 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015094636/http://www.parkrecord.com/county/ci_11505297|archive-date=October 15, 2014|url-status=dead}} After five visits to eastern Congo between 2007 and early 2010,{{cite web|url=http://philanthropyforum.org/sessions/in-conversation-with-ben-affleck/|title=In Conversation With Ben Affleck « Global Philanthropy Forum|access-date=October 8, 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/ben-affleck-launches-foundation-aid-victimized-women-children-eastern-congo-article-1.174055|title=Ben Affleck launches foundation to aid victimized women and children in eastern Congo|work=NY Daily News|access-date=October 8, 2014|location=New York|date=March 22, 2010}} Affleck developed "a clearer sense of what I wanted to do... What I found was that the people doing the best work, with the real expertise, who understood what was needed intuitively, just like they would in my neighborhood, who knew who the guy was to talk to, were community-based organizations."{{cite journal|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2013/0823/Want-to-help-Congolese-Give-them-money-directly-says-Ben-Affleck|title=Want to help Congolese? Give them money – directly, says Ben Affleck|first=Tom|last=Murphy|date=August 23, 2013|journal=Christian Science Monitor}}{{cite web|url=http://www.marketplace.org/2014/12/08/business/ben-affleck-sustainable-aid-eastern-congo|title=Ben Affleck on sustainable aid in the Eastern Congo|date=8 December 2014 }}

In 2010, Affleck and Whitney Williams co-founded the Eastern Congo Initiative.{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/03/22/congo.affleck/index.html |title=Ben Affleck Launches Aid Group for Eastern Congo |publisher=CNN |access-date=August 31, 2010 | date=March 23, 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://montanan.umt.edu/issues/fall-2015/just-ask-whitney/default.php|title=Just Ask Whitney}} Early investors included Howard Graham Buffett, Google, Laurene Powell Jobs, Pam Omidyar and Cindy McCain.{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kerryadolan/2011/04/18/ben-afflecks-congo-billionaire-connections/|title=Ben Affleck's Congo-Billionaire Connections|author=Kerry A. Dolan|date=April 18, 2011|work=Forbes|access-date=October 8, 2014}} ECI acts as a grant maker for Congolese-led, community-based organizations.{{cite news|url=http://amanpour.blogs.cnn.com/2010/03/23/ben-affleck-launches-initiative-for-congo-aid/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328224022/http://amanpour.blogs.cnn.com/2010/03/23/ben-affleck-launches-initiative-for-congo-aid/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 28, 2010|title=Ben Affleck launches initiative for Congo aid|access-date=October 8, 2014|work=CNN|date=March 23, 2010}} ECI, with two employees in the US and 12 in the Congo,{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2014/02/26/ben-affleck-harnesses-celebrity-to-spotlight-the-congo/5839049/|title=Ben Affleck harnesses celebrity to spotlight the Congo|date=February 26, 2014|access-date=October 8, 2014|work=USA Today|first1=Donna|last1=Cassata}} fundraises, makes grants and offers capacity-building support to over 20 charities.{{cite web|url=http://www.eventeleven.com/page/news/id/627/t/what-do-president-bill-clinton-and-ben-affleck-have-in-common/|title=Event Eleven - What do President Bill Clinton and Ben Affleck have in common|access-date=October 8, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.eifoundation.org/february22|title=An Evening of Entertainment, Poker, and Giving Back Benefitting Eastern Congo Initiative and water.org - Entertainment Industry Foundation|access-date=October 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014010443/http://www.eifoundation.org/february22|archive-date=October 14, 2014|url-status=dead}} These local charities support survivors of rape and sexual violence, help to reintegrate child soldiers into their communities, promote economic opportunity, increase access to health care and education, and promote community-level peace and reconciliation.{{cite web|url=http://www.easterncongo.org/about/grantmaking|title=Grantmaking|access-date=October 8, 2014}} In an effort to create sustainable wealth, ECI offers training and resources to cooperatives of Congolese farmers while leveraging public-private partnerships. In 2010, ECI partnered cacao farmers with Seattle-based Theo Chocolate and,{{cite web|url=http://www.easterncongo.org/success-stories/cbo-success-stories/detail/236|title=CBO Success Story Details|access-date=October 8, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.seattleweekly.com/home/951756-129/theo-chocolate-sources-beans-from-the|title=Seattle News and Events - Theo Chocolate Sources Beans From the Congo—and Ben|work=Seattle Weekly|access-date=October 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016000922/http://www.seattleweekly.com/home/951756-129/theo-chocolate-sources-beans-from-the|archive-date=October 16, 2014|url-status=dead}} as of 2014, Theo is the biggest sourcer of cocoa beans in the Congo.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/theo-chocolate-company-sourcing-democratic-republic-congo|title=Theo: the small chocolate company taking big strides in the DRC|author=Marc Gunther|work=the Guardian|date=16 January 2014 |access-date=October 8, 2014}} In 2011, ECI began supporting coffee farmers to increase the quality and quantity of their crop production; Starbucks began exporting their coffee beans in 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/ben-affleck-sustainable-aid-eastern-congo|title=Ben Affleck on sustainable aid in the Eastern Congo|publisher=Marketplace|first=David|last=Brancaccio|date=December 8, 2014|access-date=March 27, 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/guest-coffee-beans-bring-hope-to-war-torn-nation/|title=Coffee beans bring hope to war-torn nation|first=Dave|last=Olsen|newspaper=Seattle Times|date=February 20, 2015|access-date=March 27, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://news.starbucks.com/news/starbucks-eastern-congo-lake-kivu|title=Coffee from Eastern Congo Arriving in Starbucks Stores|date=March 16, 2016}}

File:Ben Affleck testifying to Congress on the Democratic Republic of Congo..jpg]]

ECI also advocates with and on behalf of the people of eastern Congo to raise public awareness and drive policy change in the US.{{cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ben-affleck-launches-initiative-to-support-local-solutions-in-eastern-congo-88826822.html|title=Ben Affleck Launches Initiative to Support Local Solutions in Eastern Congo|date=March 22, 2010|access-date=October 8, 2014}} In an effort to achieve this goal, ECI has published a white paper and a USAID-supported landscape analysis and searchable database of over 400 of the most effective community-based organizations.{{cite web|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2013/0823/Want-to-help-Congolese-Give-them-money-directly-says-Ben-Affleck|title=Want to help Congolese? Give them money – directly, says Ben Affleck|author=Tom Murphy|date=August 23, 2013|work=The Christian Science Monitor|access-date=October 8, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.easterncongo.org/about/publications/archives|title=Archives|access-date=October 8, 2014}} Affleck has made nine media-documented trips to Central Africa since 2007 and has discussed ECI's work in many television interviews.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/03/ben-affleck-aims-to-give-back-with-work-in-congo/|title=Ben Affleck Aims to Give Back With Work in Congo|author=ABC News|work=ABC News Blogs|access-date=October 8, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7SMjubswI0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/g7SMjubswI0 |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=Ben Affleck 'This Week' Interview Exclusive: Hollywood Actor, Activist Discusses Violence in Congo|work=YouTube|access-date=October 8, 2014}}{{cbignore}} In 2010, he wrote a column for The Washington Post,{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/29/AR2010112904242.html?nav=hcmoduletmv|title=Ben Affleck - Ben Affleck: How the United States can help secure Congo|access-date=October 8, 2014|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 30, 2010}} contributed an essay to The Enough Moment{{cite web|url=http://www.enoughproject.org/blogs/ben-affleck-supporting-african-solutions|title=Ben Affleck: Supporting African Solutions|date=14 June 2012 |access-date=October 8, 2014}} and appeared as a panelist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/click/stories/1011/affleck_kerry_join_forces.html|title=Ben Affleck, John Kerry join forces|website=Politico |access-date=October 8, 2014}} In 2011, Affleck and Cindy McCain, an ECI board member, testified before the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights.{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/click/stories/1103/affleck_mccain_on_congo.html |title=Congo crisis pairs Ben Affleck, Cindy McCain - PATRICK GAVIN | POLITICO CLICK |publisher=Politico.com |date=March 8, 2011 |access-date=June 29, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbE5n2TljsU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/jbE5n2TljsU |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=Ben Affleck and Cindy Mccain's Passion (03.07.11) |publisher=YouTube |access-date=June 29, 2014}}{{cbignore}} Also in 2011, Affleck was a speaker at the Global Philanthropy Forum.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X31zuLZ_YQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/8X31zuLZ_YQ |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=In Conversation With Ben Affleck and Laurene Powell Jobs|work=YouTube|access-date=October 8, 2014}}{{cbignore}} In 2012, he spoke alongside Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at Washington's Child Survival: Call to Action Forum and alongside Senator John McCain at the Sedona Forum.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/06/ben-affleck-hillary-clinton-lobby-for-world-child-survival/|title=Ben Affleck, Hillary Clinton Lobby for World Child Survival|author=ABC News|work=ABC News Blogs|access-date=October 8, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.wmur.com/political-scoop/Why-Kelly-Ayotte-Is-Talking-To-Actor-Ben-Affleck/16211872#!bCWXMm|title=Why Kelly Ayotte Is Talking To Actor Ben Affleck|work=wmur|date=24 May 2012 |access-date=October 8, 2014}}{{cite web|title=Frances Townsend on Twitter: "Ben Affleck in Sedona w Cindy McCain at the McCain Institute talking about his effort in East Congo"|url=https://twitter.com/FranTownsend/status/196337205956968448|url-status=live|access-date=October 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623001045/https://twitter.com/FranTownsend/status/196337205956968448 |archive-date=2015-06-23 }} He wrote op-eds for The Washington Post and Politico.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ben-affleck-congo-urgently-needs-us-help/2012/11/29/828cd2c2-37ef-11e2-8a97-363b0f9a0ab3_story.html|title=Ben Affleck: Congo urgently needs U.S. help|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=October 8, 2014|date=November 29, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0612/77386.html|title=Opinion: Ending child mortality - Ben Affleck and Rajiv Shah|work=POLITICO|date=13 June 2012 |access-date=October 8, 2014}} During the Kony 2012 campaign, Affleck wrote an essay for The Huffington Post. While welcoming increased awareness of the issue of child soldiers, he warned that Western 'saviours' are "ineffectual at best and deadly at worst" and stressed the importance of funding "remarkable local organisations."{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/ben-affleck/joseph-kony-ben-affleck_b_1344323.html?ref=entertainment&ir=Entertainment|title=Kony 2012: Westerners Are Not And Will Never Be The 'Saviors' Of Africa|date=March 14, 2012|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=October 8, 2014}} Later in 2012, Affleck testified before the House Armed Services Committee and met with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-xpm-2012-dec-19-la-et-mn-ben-affleck-testifies-about-the-congo-in-washington-20121219-story.html|title=Ben Affleck testifies in Congress about war-torn Congo|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=October 8, 2014|first=John|last=Horn|date=December 19, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ben-affleck-passes-u-s-senate-run-article-1.1227086|title=Ben Affleck passes on U.S. Senate run|website=New York Daily News |date=25 December 2012 }} In 2013, Affleck introduced the Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste at a TED conference{{cite web|url=http://blog.ted.com/2013/02/28/the-congo-is-not-hopeless-ben-affleck-at-ted2013/|title=The Congo is not hopeless: Ben Affleck at TED2013|work=TED Blog|date=28 February 2013 |access-date=October 8, 2014}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/17/fashion/ben-affleck-the-leader-of-the-pack.html?pagewanted=all|title=Hollywood's New Role Model (Beard Optional)|first=Brooks|last=Barnes|newspaper=New York Times|date=March 15, 2015|access-date=March 27, 2015}} and began developing an Africa-set film.{{cite magazine|url=https://deadline.com/2013/10/ben-affleck-plans-geopolitical-africa-set-warner-bros-thriller-will-staples-scripting-620404/ |title=Ben Affleck Plans Geopolitical Africa-Set Warner Bros Thriller; Will Staples Scripting |magazine=Deadline |date=October 25, 2013 |first=Mike Jr. |last=Fleming |access-date=October 7, 2014 }} Also that year, President of Rwanda Paul Kagame was photographed arriving at Affleck's Los Angeles home; Affleck had testified before Congress in 2012 about the Rwandese government's support of rebel groups in eastern Congo.{{cite web|url=http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/im64mXTd3Jn/Paul+Kagame+Visits+Ben+Affleck+House/RMYsJ5ak6Y1|title=Paul Kagame Visits Ben Affleck's House|work=Zimbio|access-date=October 8, 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/ben-affleck-urges-more-robust-us-diplomacy-in-dr-congo/story-e6frg6so-1226541005097|title=Ben Affleck urges more robust US diplomacy in DR Congo|newspaper=The Australian|date=December 20, 2012|access-date=March 27, 2015}} In early 2014, he and US Special Envoy Russ Feingold testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and met with Secretary of State John Kerry.{{cite web|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/affleck-casts-spotlight-situation-congo|title=Affleck casts spotlight on situation in Congo|work=The Big Story|access-date=October 8, 2014}} He also spoke at the Hillary Rodham Clinton Awards, where Denis Mukwege was honored.{{cite web|url=http://www.georgetown.edu/news/hillary-rodham-clinton-awards-2014.html|title=Clinton Presents Advancing Women in Peace and Security Awards|date=26 February 2014 |access-date=October 8, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/TinaBrownLM/status/438509689287229440|title=Tina Brown on Twitter: "Very convivial dinner after Clinton Awards. @BenAffleck showed up & did joint toast of @WilliamJHague & Mukwege w/ @HillaryClinton"|access-date=October 8, 2014}}{{Cite tweet |number=440607983996002305 |user=CelebEstateMgr |title=Where was @BenAffleck last night? Last time we saw him was a week ago in DC with @HillaryClinton at Evermay |access-date=October 8, 2014 |url=https://twitter.com/CelebEstateMgr/status/440607983996002305}} In 2015, Affleck testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Projects{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ben-affleck-bill-gates-nonprofits-praised-senate-hearing-article-1.2163229|title=Ben Affleck, Bill Gates nonprofits praised at Senate hearing|website=New York Daily News |date=26 March 2015 }} while, in early 2016, he was a speaker at the Starkey Expo.{{cite press release|url=https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2015/10/05/773522/10151673/en/Starkey-Hearing-Technologies-Announces-Keynote-Speakers-and-Guests-for-2016-Hearing-Innovation-Expo.html|title=Starkey Hearing Technologies Announces Keynote Speakers and Guests for 2016 Hearing Innovation Expo|first=Starkey Hearing|last=Technologies|date=5 October 2015 }}

• Howard Graham Buffett, philanthropist - Founding member{{Cite press release |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ben-affleck-launches-initiative-to-support-local-solutions-in-eastern-congo-88826822.html |title=Ben Affleck Launches Initiative to Support Local Solutions in Eastern Congo |publisher=PRNewswire |access-date=2010-03-22}}
• Faida Mitifu, DRC Ambassador to the US - Advisory Committee member
• [http://www.humanityunited.org/ Humanity United] - Founding member
• [http://www.bridgewayfoundation.org The Bridgeway Foundation] - Founding member
• [http://www.jewishworldwatch.org/ Jewish World Watch] - Founding member

{{reflist|2}}

• {{official website|http://www.easterncongo.org/}}
• [https://www.youtube.com/user/Easterncongo Eastern Congo], official YouTube channel

{{Ben Affleck}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Eastern Congo Initiative}}

Category:Ben Affleck

Category:Foreign charities operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Category:Development charities based in the United States

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Seattle

Category:Organizations established in 2010

Category:2010 establishments in the United States