Stop Watching the TikTok Kayak Guy. Look at the Real Crisis in Congo. My idea Imagine opening TikTok and seeing thousands of people talking about someone kayaking through the Congo Basin. People are making jokes about hippos, crocodiles and Mami Wata. But how many of those same people are talking about the people in eastern Congo who are living through war? I am not saying that exploring the Congo Basin is wrong. I am saying that the world should care just as much about Congolese people as it cares about the Congo’s wildlife, rivers and natural beauty. I am 14 years old, I am Congolese, and I live in South Africa. I have seen how people can treat you differently because of where you come from. I have been told to “go back home.” It hurts because Congo is more than a country people hear about when there is violence, and Congolese people deserve to live with dignity, safety and peace. When people talk about Congo, they often talk about its minerals, forests and wars. But what about the children who want to go to school? The families who want to return home? The parents who want to know their children are safe? What about the people who want to live normal lives without being afraid? According to humanitarian organisations, around 26.6 million people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were projected to face acute food insecurity in early 2026. Millions of people have also been displaced by conflict and other emergencies. These are not just numbers. They represent real people, families and futures. Why does the world keep looking away? The war in eastern Congo has many causes, including armed groups, political struggles, regional tensions and competition over valuable natural resources. Civilians continue to pay a terrible price. Congo is rich in minerals used in electronics and other products. Yet the people living in the country do not always benefit fairly from that wealth. The world should not be able to enjoy products made with minerals from the region while ignoring the risks of exploitation, violence and abuses connected to their supply chains. I do not believe that ordinary people buying a phone are responsible for the war. I believe that governments and companies must do more to make sure their actions and business relationships do not help fund armed groups or serious human rights abuses. I also believe that social media has a role to play. A viral video can make people interested in a place, but that interest should not stop at entertainment. If millions of people can discuss a river, an animal or an explorer, they can also learn about the people who live there. I do not want people to stop looking at Congo. I want them to look at the whole of Congo, including its people. My solution: The Congo Peace and Accountability Plan I want to propose five connected ideas that could help the world move from simply talking about Congo to taking action. 1. No Blood Minerals, No Business Governments should introduce stronger laws requiring companies to check where their minerals come from and whether their supply chains are connected to armed groups or serious human rights abuses. Companies should publish clear reports, independent checks should be carried out, and businesses that break the rules should face real consequences under the law. The goal is not to punish every company or every person who buys electronics. The goal is to stop companies from benefiting while ignoring the harm that may be happening in their supply chains. 2. The Peace Promise Tracker Governments and armed parties sometimes make promises to stop fighting or protect civilians. But people need to know whether those promises are being kept. I propose an independent public website that tracks peace agreements, ceasefires, humanitarian access and commitments to protect civilians. Information should be checked by trusted independent organisations and updated regularly. If a promise is broken, the public should be able to see what happened and what action is being taken. Peace agreements should not just be words on paper. They should lead to real changes in people’s lives. 3. The Congo Truth Button I propose one simple online platform where anyone can learn what is happening in Congo using verified information. It could explain the conflict in simple language, show humanitarian needs, share updates from trusted organisations and explain what governments and companies can do to help. People should not have to search through hundreds of posts to understand the crisis. The platform should also help people recognise false information and avoid blaming entire nationalities or communities for the actions of particular leaders or armed groups. It could connect people to reliable ways to support humanitarian organisations and peaceful campaigns. 4. A Global Youth Peace Movement Young people around the world should be able to stand together and demand peace for Congo. Schools, universities, youth organisations and online communities could take part in a peaceful day of action. They could share verified information, write to elected representatives, organise educational events and ask governments to support civilian protection and real peace efforts. Young people may not control governments, but we can raise awareness, ask questions and make it harder for the world to ignore a crisis. I want other young people to understand that being Congolese should not mean growing up with fear, discrimination or the feeling that the world does not care about your country. 5. The Congo Rebuild Fund Peace is not only about stopping gunfire. People also need safe homes, schools, hospitals, food, clean water and opportunities to rebuild their lives. I propose an independently audited fund that supports trusted local organisations working with displaced families and communities affected by conflict. It could help restore schools and health services, support families returning home when it is safe, and help communities rebuild their livelihoods. The fund should publish where its money goes, who receives support and what has been achieved. Local Congolese communities should help decide what they need most. What needs to happen first? These five ideas could work together, but I believe three things must be priorities: * Protect civilians: All parties to the conflict must stop attacks on civilians, respect international humanitarian law and allow safe humanitarian access. * Make peace agreements count: Governments and armed parties must be held accountable for their commitments, with independent monitoring and consequences for serious violations. * Stop rewarding abuse: Governments and companies must take meaningful action to prevent money, minerals and business relationships from helping sustain armed violence. The international community should support peaceful negotiations, investigate serious crimes fairly, and help ensure that people responsible for abuses can be held accountable. The voices of Congolese civilians, including women, young people and displaced families, must be included in decisions about their future. Why I care I am only 14. I am not a president, a politician or someone with millions of followers. But I am Congolese, and I should not have to be powerful to care about what happens to my country. I want people to see Congo as more than a war, a headline or a source of minerals. I want them to see the people, the culture, the music, the beauty and the future that Congo deserves. When I listen to Congolese and African artists, I am reminded that our culture is alive, creative and powerful. Congo has so much to offer the world. Its story should not only be about suffering. I know that one idea will not end a conflict that has lasted for decades. But silence will not end it either. Awareness alone is not enough; it must lead to pressure, accountability, humanitarian support and action. My final message The Congo does not need the world to feel sorry for us. It needs the world to take our lives seriously. We need a future where children can go to school without fear, families can live safely, communities can rebuild, and our natural resources can benefit our people instead of helping sustain violence. So, the next time a video of someone exploring the Congo goes viral, I hope people enjoy it. But I also hope they ask themselves: What is happening to the people who call this place home? Do not just watch Congo. Listen to Congolese people. Do not just talk about our minerals. Help demand responsible businesses and real accountability. Do not just promise peace. Help make peace possible. Congo must be free from war. Congo must be free to rebuild. And Congolese people deserve a future defined by peace, not violence.