In the early stage of the covid-19 outbreak, the local NGO Hold DRC in Goma, DR Congo, starts an information campaign to prevent the virus from spreading in eastern Congo.  Peer educators from Hold have to meet up early in the morning, at 05.15 to be precise, to avoid too much excitement and sometimes confrontation. 

There’s a lot of rumors, not new to the situation (e.g during ebola), about the white man bringing the disease. Though in this case, it might not be wrong. 

It was great to see Hold DRC in this early morning, without too many resources working very hands-on and spreading the most basic information, hygiene routines, social distancing, and why the government shut down schools. 

This is proof of how aid can be managed locally, without too much bureaucracy, and without overpaid ex-pats.