Providing safety and comfort during conflict

In 2019, we expanded our initiatives to care for children who have lost their families and homes due to tribal conflict and ethnic cleansing. We united with the local church to care for children and families affected by violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The church built Father’s Schools to accommodate the children, providing a safe space, education and daily lunch. They ensured the children’s needs were met despite the terrible circumstances. Truly orphaned children were taken in, cared for and loved by local families and  the local church. There are currently 5 Father’s Schools serving more than 800 children. This initiative is rapidly growing and we expect more churches to join in caring for these children and families.

Below you will find pictures from the Ituri region in the DRC, where the local church stepped up to care for 350 displaced kids and unaccompanied children.

Workers built a bridge between the church and the school to allow safe passage for the children to go from school to the church for their meals and expansions for larger classrooms.

The group pictured in pink includes management committee members and social workers. The man pictured in the left in the navy blazer is known as “The Champion” of all the children in the region. His job is to oversee the management committee, board of the church and be the voice of the children.

The Bishop of the Ituri region gave an opening ceremony for the school and blessed it.

Children were symbolically handed their school supplies by community members happy to have them there.

Women making the daily meal for the children.

Children before they received their uniforms

vs. after they received their uniforms and school supplies.

Many of these children would end up in government care or orphanages if not for the local church rising up to provide this program to keep children together with their families. To keep more families together, consider investing in our Orphan Prevention fund.