While scoring goals in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Japan and Norway, “Mush” Bakenga opened a school for orphans in an area ravaged by the deadliest conflict since World War II.

Find a country with a more tragic history than the Democratic Republic (DR) of the Congo – I dare you. Here are a few shocking facts you might not be aware of:

• The actions (or inactions) of Leopold II of Belgium are estimated to have killed 10-15 million people. His army had strict orders to use only one bullet per person and demanded receipts from his soldiers for each bullet used. The receipt? An arm. And if they failed to produce the “receipt”? The soldiers themselves were killed.
• When the Belgians left and the Democratic Republic of the Congo became independent in 1960, can you guess how many people were left in the country with a university degree? 17. In a population of about 20 million…
• The Gross domestic product (GDP) was halved between 1990 and 2000.
• The 2nd Congo War (1998-2003), also known as the Great African War, was the deadliest conflict since World War II.

These were among the topics on a podcast about DR Congo in a series called 198 countries with Einar Tørnqvist. Mushagalusa Bakenga Joar Bahati Namugunga, or just “Mush”, was invited as a special guest and his insights were heartbreaking. They also inspired All-in Global to make the organisation he helped found, Jabez Verden (Jabez’ World), the receiver of our 7th donation (of 10, focused on children’s education in impoverished areas).

FORGOT HOW TO SPEAK NORWEGIAN

Mush considers himself part Congolese and part Norwegian. His Congolese parents met each other in Trondheim in Norway but when the family travelled back to visit DR Congo, the war broke loose which forced them to escape. For two years they fled from terror groups and while the mother of Mush was giving birth to his sister, their father was kidnapped. After two years on the run the family was miraculously reunited and travelled back to Norway.

“When I came back to Norway as a 5-year old I had forgotten how to speak Norwegian. But I went to a school that taught immigrants how to speak Norwegian so it quickly came back to me,” Mush told the Salvation Army.

We can understand his confusion. In DR Congo there are an estimated 242 spoken languages! The official language since the colonial period is French and four other languages have the status of national language: Kikongo, Lingala, Swahili and Tshiluba.  

Mush currently plays in the top league in Norway for Stabæk and is known as a well-read striker with a strong humanitarian focus.

HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN EASTERN DR CONGO

The primary goal of Jabez Verden is to provide education for the children who find themselves in a humanitarian crisis in Nyangezi in the South Kivu province, located in the Eastern parts of DR Congo.

“This school for the vulnerable children in Congo doesn’t only help them. If we ensure that just one of those children gets an education, it will help a whole family and make the community more resourceful altogether”, Mush told All-in Global.

We couldn’t agree more.

NOBEL PRIZE WINNER IN THE FAMILY

Jabez Verden was founded in 2018, the same year as Mush’s uncle Denis Mukengere Mukwege won the Nobel Prize for his work against sexualised violence as a weapon in war and armed conflicts.

“It was extremely well deserved when he finally won. I was so happy for him. He was a favourite to win in 2017 as well but Barack Obama won instead,” said Mush.

He is clearly invested emotionally in DR Congo where the human rights situation remains dire, with internal conflicts and poor governance contributing to a severe food crisis and the internal displacement of 5.8 million people, more than anywhere else in Africa (Human Rights Watch).

ROPES AND PLASTIC BAGS = A FOOTBALL

But Mush also has good memories.

“Our parents did an incredible job of focusing on the positives although we had little or no food and no proper housing. My football talent peaked on the fields of Congo where we played football with curled ropes wrapped tightly in plastic bags”.

Much can look back at an eventful football career. He scored 12 goals in 34 matches for Rosenborg between 2009 and 2012 which led to him being signed by Club Brugge. From there he went on loan spells at Cercle Brugge, Esbjerg, Eintracht Braunschweig and Molde, before returning to Rosenborg in 2016.

SCORED AGAINST ROSENBORG LAST SUNDAY

He spent 6 years at various clubs in Norway and his career peaked with Odd, where he scored 26 goals in 37 matches. That spiked the interest of the Japanese club Tokushima Vortis where he scored 5 goals in 31 matches.

Now aged 31, Mush is currently involved in the relegation battle in the Norwegian top league with Stabæk. Last Sunday he scored the only goal for his team when they took an important point away against Rosenborg.

Our company supports Vålerenga who unfortunately is fighting relegation together with Stabæk, but sometimes there are more important things in life than football. We find it impossible not to wish such a genuinely nice guy well.

All-in Global provide language solutions in 80+ languages with a strong focus on sports and games. Below is a list of our 6 previous donations and their story.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY DONATION #1: SHANTI BHAVAN, INDIA

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY DONATION #2: TOSTAN, AFRICA

SUPPORTING TRASH HEROES AROUND THE WORLD

SMITH: THE HELP IS LITERALLY FROM HAND TO HAND

OUR 2022 CHRISTMAS DONATION GOES TO CRESCER, SER

THE POWER OF SMALL ACTS: MEET ANA LUIZA NARVAEZ