TEMPUS Magazine redefines time, giving you a glimpse into all things sophisticated, compelling, vibrant, with its pages reflecting the style, luxury and beauty of the world in which we live. A quarterly publication for private aviation enthusiasts.
Issue link: http://tempus-magazine.epubxp.com/i/107193
After his congressional appearance, Affeck remained positive. "I was really encouraged by our discussions in Washington," he says, "and ECI will continue to work with policy makers to ensure that Congo does not fall off their radar again—this is too important." After a contemplative pause, he adds, "After decades of violence, the people of Congo deserve peace, and the United States is in a position to help them fnd it." Today, ECI has witnessed success on a variety of fronts, from supporting local organizations training vulnerable youth and former child soldiers in basic education and job skills, to helping rural farmers to improve the quality and quantity of crops while leveraging investment for expansion to international and local markets. The potential for change in Congo is abundant. The International Monetary Fund projects that the DRC will be among ten of the world's fastest growing economies growing at a rate of roughly 6 percent a year until 2015. Ninety percent of Congo's arable land remains uncultivated. Once a breadbasket of Africa, this virtually untapped resource could return and transform the lives of millions of children and countless communities in Congo and across central Africa. The potential for positive change in Congo is clear, and Affeck is up to the task of broadcasting the story. Affeck turned forty years old last year. He is married and has three children. He has appeared in over thirty flms, written fve and directed three, of which Argo is the most recent. Given his incredible and very successful run, you might wonder why he has stayed so committed to ECI. True to his ability to tell a good story, Affeck pauses and explains, "This work is really inspired by my role as a father. Like any dad, I want my kids to be proud of me, proud of the legacy I leave them. I'm not sure my celebrity means much to my kids. But I hope putting my celebrity to work on behalf of other kids—and their moms and dads—is as meaningful to them as it is to me." everyday people had taken it upon themselves to improve their lives and the lives of their neighbors. generaTion nexT One of Affleck's primary missions working in eastern Congo is to lower the number of preventable child deaths.