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In - In the town of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo sits a schoolhouse. The daily routine of children laughing and learning is interrupted as villagers scramble into the school looking for a haven from the newly formed M23 rebel militia. The sound of rockets off in the distance drowns the laughter, and now all is eerily quiet as students and townspeople sit and listen. The smell of burnt cocoa wafts through the air mixed with diesel fuel and sweat. It's hot, and the dry air is thick. Each breath is measured, as all attempt to stay quiet in hopes the rebels move past. The school stands as a silent refuge, for now. What sounds like a movie story line has unfortunately become a real-life daily occurrence in parts of eastern Congo. This volatile region of the world has seen its share of violence. From 1998 to 2003, eight African nations fought on Congolese soil, killing millions, forcing tens of thousands of children to become soldiers, and, in some areas of Congo, subjecting as many as two of every three women to rape and other forms of sexual violence. Despite all of the uncertainty, the Congolese have made great strides in education, and economic and social development—a lot of which has to do with a Hollywood heavyweight who has become a champion for the region. But, then again, Ben Affeck likes a good story. There was always a sense of helping the underdog for Affeck, but the big change for him came as he assumed the role of husband and father. Thinking about how his legacy might one day be viewed by his own children, Affeck decided to put his celebrity to work in the world. He watched and learned as others in his profession were involved with activism in Darfur. During a stint in college, Affeck had pursued Middle Eastern studies, which gave him needed background to explore the situation more diligently. "In the course of my research, I came across a brief, parenthetical mention of the fact that the number of deaths in Darfur paled in comparison to the millions killed in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo," Affeck says. "I was struck not only by the numbers but by the fact that I hadn't heard about it. I had to do something." Knowing this was a story of unnecessary tragedy that needed to be told, Affeck took time from his flm career to travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to learn frsthand. What he found was a region that has the unwanted distinction of being one of the most volatile in the world and the site of the deadliest confict since World War II. "I traveled to refugee camps, hospitals, clinics, farms, and communities in DRC speaking with hundreds of people, meeting with warlords, relief workers, child soldiers, and members of Parliament in an effort to better understand this region where such violence was taking place," he says. "It was remarkable to me that, in the face of these incredible challenges, the Congolese people were stepping up and saying, 'I'm not waiting for anyone else to help. I'm not looking for someone else to come and tell me what to do. I'm going to do it.' They were taking the initiative," Affeck says. "I was so moved by that I said to myself, 'That's who I want to help.' I decided to commit myself to do what I could Wholly FocuSed Affleck's Eastern Congo Initiative, formed in 2010, is the only U.S.-based advocacy organization completely devoted to serving this African region. (Left) Affleck accepts the 2013 Critic's Choice Best Director award for his film, Argo. Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images Spring 2013 . Tempus-Magazine.com 57