A transportation project started by a nonprofit in Scranton is one of the driving forces behind the city’s growing Congolese community.

SCRANTON, Pa. — What seems like just any ordinary van is actually a valued piece of equipment for Ushu Mukelo and members of the Congolese Community in Scranton.

“We wanted to make sure that we’re also playing a role in helping these families with, you know, maybe having access to jobs, could be medical appointments or anything, but transportation was a very big need. It was a challenge back then, and we’re very excited that now we can address it,” said Mukelo, Congolese Community of Scranton President.



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With help from the Scranton Area Community Foundation, Mukelo says the nonprofit, Congolese Community of Scranton, was able to apply for and receive a $20,000 grant last summer.

Since then, it’s been constant trips to Philadelphia for immigration work, helping new families get established in the city, and using the van as a mobile office to help serve the hundreds of Congolese community members that live in NEPA.

“We have paperwork. We have things in there. We can easily move to someone and be able to help them there without them having to come to the office because we’re all over Scranton, but some people do not drive, and we still have a very good number of people who do not drive, mostly elderly folks who are just scared of learning how to drive,” said Mukelo.

Mukelo says this van is the start of what members hope will be a growing fleet of cars for the Congolese community. “The need is going to increase, and again, as we speak, the van is supposed to only help with you know major transportation needs, but we’re also using it for like office trips, so we’re trying to see if we can also be able to get some other grant to buy a smaller vehicle that at least we can use for official trips and needs.”

With the turn of the key and the shift to drive, the momentum this van generates is one of the driving forces behind creating a better life for members of the Congolese community in Lackawanna County.