Charter of our NGO

A non-profit association called "Chaîne d'Actions de Solidarité et d'Espoir pour Tous" (CHAST) was created in Goma, Province of North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, on 15 August 1998.

The head office of the association is established in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, B.P. - Goma, North Kivu.

The association's objectives are to
 

- to enable the re-establishment of solidarity in favour of the disadvantaged social strata, in order to recreate hope in them.

- To create chains of positive solidarity in the community, through concrete social actions to overcome poverty.

- To awaken, through the education of adults and young people, a spirit of questioning oneself and the established structures for harmonious development.

- Fight against environmental degradation, a major enemy of development in rural areas.

- provide institutional support for organisations working with the disadvantaged.

The association is active throughout the Democratic Republic of Congo, mainly in the former Kivu.

The sectors of intervention of the association are determined by the diversity of activities in favour of disadvantaged groups. The main areas are: social, humanitarian, education and training, environmental management.

The association includes founding members, effective members, honorary members, adherent members and sympathising members.

A member of the CHAST association is any natural or legal person having adhered to the objectives set out in article 03 of the present statutes.

- An effective member is the one who agrees to contribute to the ideal of the association up to 60$US per year and remains available to any other possible participation. Two of the founding members of the Association must endorse such an application.

- A sympathizing member adheres to the ideal of CHAST and puts at its disposal its know-how in various activities in favour of the underprivileged. He/she joins without conditions.

- an adherent member is any sympathising member who is about to become an effective member

- An honorary member is approved by the Board of Directors of the Association from among persons who provide either their competence in the field of action, or any assistance in kind.


Only full members have the right to take decisions according to the majority determined by the statutes.

The full members can only take decisions if the majority of them are present.

All decisions requiring a majority of the full members shall be taken by a simple majority of the members present. The number of founding members is limited to 12 (twelve) and may not be less than 5 (five).

All founding members are full members by right.

a) Conditions of entry:
Any person approved by the founding members may become a full member.

Sympathising members may join freely.

b) Conditions for leaving:
Founding and effective membership is lost by resignation presented to the Board of Directors, which takes note of it after the advice of the General Assembly. It is also lost by death.

c) Conditions for exclusion:
Any member may be excluded by decision of the General Assembly after consultation with a college of three members (Wise Persons). This college is composed of a founding member, an honorary member and an effective member, all appointed by the General Assembly for a renewable period of three years.
Exclusion may be pronounced in the event of a serious breach of duty.

The minimum membership fee is set at the equivalent in local currency of US$60.00 per year per person. However, members commit themselves to achieve the purpose of the association to the best of their ability, dedication and action.

The association is composed of a General Assembly, the Administrative Council and the Executive Committee

a) The General Assembly:

It is the supreme body of the association. It is responsible for the conception and orientation of the association's activities. It is also responsible for the approval and dismissal of the members and administrators of the Association. It may be convened by the Board of Directors, by two founding members or by one third of the full members.

b) Board of Directors:

The Board of Directors is composed of two delegates from each category of members of the Association (except sympathisers) appointed by the General Assembly and revocable by it.
The Board is responsible for the execution of the decisions of the General Assembly.
It carries out any administrative act and/or applies any provision related to the association's purpose.
The Board appoints the members of the Executive Committee and ratifies the election of the Executive Secretary by the General Assembly.

c) Executive Committee:
The Executive Committee is the day-to-day management body of the Association. It executes the decisions of the G.A. as well as those of the Board of Directors and ensures the strict application of the provisions of the Statutes. The Executive Committee consists of 3 members: the Executive Secretary, the Project Officer and the Administration and Finance Officer.

The association lives off its members' contributions as well as donations, legacies and gifts. To this end, it may open bank accounts both in Congo and abroad. It may open bank accounts both in Congo and abroad.

The association shall draw up an annual account at the end of each financial year. This annual account will be established by the Executive Committee of the association. An external audit will confirm the situation presented by the Executive Committee to the General Assembly.

Any dispute arising between members during the operation of the association shall be settled amicably by the college of wise men referred to in Article 7 c. The decisions of this college shall not be subject to appeal and shall be binding on all.

The articles of association may only be amended by a decision of the majority of the full members.

The voluntary dissolution of the association can only be pronounced by a 2/3 majority of the full members. The same majority is required for the appointment of liquidators. In the event of dissolution, the assets of the association shall be assigned to an association pursuing similar aims to those of the present association, which shall be designated by a 2/3 majority of the full members.

For what is not provided for in the present statutes, the association shall refer to the provisions of the Congolese legislation in force governing non-profit associations as well as to the internal regulations to which all the founding members have subscribed.

YOHALI SEFU JEANNE - President

ALBERT KIBENGO SEFU - Vice-President

ZABIBU ERNIDE - Director of Finances

ZEPHIRIN SELEMANI - Director of Projects et Programes

GODEL SEFU - Director of Monitoring and Evaluation

DORENA VOLKMANN - Director of Communications

ELEONORD BUSHAMBALE - Advisor