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Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
The United Nations estimates there are 50,000-70,000 children in the Democratic Republic of Congo who have been abandoned by parents, due to years of war, disease, economic and political insecurity, and poverty. Children recruited by many of the armies involved in the war in Congo now fend for themselves. Abandoned children live desperate lives earning money as porters and prostitutes, sleeping in cemeteries and roadside ditches. More than 20,000 abandoned children can be found in the capital city of Kinshasa and the numbers increase daily. Non-governmental agencies located in Kinshasa reach only four percent of the number of abandoned children living on the streets.
The Community of Disciples of Christ of the Congo (CDCC), founded in 1898 and a longstanding partner of Global Ministries, is attending to the needs of abandoned children living on the streets. Through the leadership of the CDCC and the work of a board to oversee it, the work of the existing orphanage and daycare program for abandoned children is supported. The program is named House of Life of the Reverend Dr. Elonda Multipurpose Center.
Currently the House of Life is located in a rented property and building in the area of the capital city of Kinshasa. The approximately 16 orphans, all of whom are between the ages of five and fourteen, are well cared for; go to school with full support in terms of fees, uniforms, and books; and are attended to medically. The Community of Disciples of Christ of the Congo is pleased to be carrying out this immediate ministry with this small number of orphans as a pilot project. Global Ministries provides financial support for this care of the orphans.
Property has been secured on the outskirts of Kinshasa for the future location of the House of Life. Plans are for the House of Life to provide facilities for a larger number of abandoned children (the children being currently cared for in the temporary facility will be moved there). The new facility is situated only a few yards from the children's school, and will actually have a lower rent price than the former residence. The new building itself has already had doors and windows installed, and the facility will eventually also include an administrative building, a health center, and a sports field for recreational activities. The Reverend Dr. Elonda Multipurpose Center also will provide community-based support for children in need and their families with educational and other programs. The CDCC is in the planning stages of this service and educational center.
House of Life has also devoted itself to agricultural and farm-based activities on the property in order to provide proper nourishment for the children. It has begun the construction of nine ponds, to be completed in early 2007, which will be filled with minnows and fish. An expert on the subject has been working with the management committee to insure that the ponds are in proper working order. Fields of corn, cassava, groundnuts, and beans are cultivated on House of Life's nearly five acres of land. Both male and female independent laborers are hired by the facility seasonally to work the fields, and all are paid a fair wage. Extra personnel are needed, however, to oversee the field and pond work and to provide surveillance of the new property.
Funds are needed to provide House of Life with these new personnel, as well as support for the completion of the new building. While the House of Life cannot reach all the abandoned children in Kinshasa, the CDCC can save the lives of each child they reach through love, shelter, food, and education, thus doing a part in shaping the future of the nation.
