The Contribution of Salvation Army to Social Organization : The Case of Democratic Rebublic of Congo

Abstract: The current study explored the contributions of the Salvation Army (TSA) to social organization in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Being one of the leading Church-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs), TSA plays a fundamental role in delivering social services to the DRC. To understand the organization's social activities in the African state, the researcher adopted a qualitative phenomenological research design to explore the lived experiences of the respondents on TSA's role as a social organization. A sample population of 10 participants (n=10) drawn from Kinshasa, DRC, was used, and in-depth interviews were adopted in collecting data. From the research, it was evident that the primary themes that emerged included shelter, disaster management, education, healthcare, and social growth and development. The research illustrated that TSA's services align with its principles and doctrines of helping humankind. TSA's goal is to alleviate the suffering of humanity by providing basic social services. Hence, TSA collaborates with other organizations, particularly the government, to address immediate social challenges affecting a particular community. The research concluded that TSA is a social organization driven by the desire to serve all people equally, whether believers or non-believers address social challenges impeding their well-being. TSA continues to play a pivotal role in alleviating the well-being of communities in impoverished Kinshasa, DRC.