The children are currently back at school finishing up the 2019 – 2020 school year that was interrupted by COVID-19. This school year is nearing an end, as September 30th will be the last day of classes. Following a 10-day break, the 2020 – 2021 school year will be back in session. Education is undoubtedly the path to a brighter future for the children of Grace Orphanage. 

If you would like to contribute to their education and school supplies for the 2020-2021 school year, please click HERE. 

Construction of the third home is nearly complete. Unfortunately, the project has experienced some delays as COVID-19 containment measures shut down the border between the Congo (DRC) and neighbouring Burundi, where many of the building supplies are sourced. The contingency plan now has all materials being sourced locally, certainly a positive development for the local community. Assuming all goes well, it shouldn’t be long before the third home on site is fully occupied.

As if the COVID-19 impact and other challenges to daily living, health, and safety weren’t enough, this past spring the town of Uvira where Grace Orphanage is located, was hit by flash-flooding of the Mulongwe River resulting from torrential rainfall. The United Nations estimated 80,000 people were impacted, with more than 15,000 homes damaged, at least 25 confirmed dead, and many left homeless with increased exposure to sickness and disease.

Thankfully the children and staff at Grace Orphanage are all safe, and the new facilities survived relatively unimpacted. Remarkably, these resilient children who have already endured so much in their young lives, responded by stepping into action, first helping with relief, then getting involved with helping rebuild the community. Thanks to the children and staff of Grace Orphanage as well as the generous support of IWOF‘s donors, 125 care packages were handed out with tarp, mosquito nets, a bag of rice, soap, and a washbasin. The children helped to build approximately 20 tarped shelters for widows and replaced the roofs on 2 homes for widows as well.  It is truly remarkable to see that these kids have come so far and are now paying it forward in the community. This is a true reflection of the quality of the care, support, and values that have been instilled under the care of Grace Orphanage.

Self-sustainability has always been a long-term goal for Grace Orphanage. Recently construction started on the raised pig pens, which will be used for the pig project (see picture above), which will not only supply pork for the orphanage but will be a source of income for both the orphanage and staff involved, as well as a great teaching opportunity for the children.

Another area of focus for Grace Orphanage is ensuring that when the children reach adulthood they are equipped with practical life skills that will set them up to not only be employable and prepared for family life but also contributing members of the community. As such, the children are actively involved with daily chores, meal preparations, laundry, ironing, sewing, agriculture, and recently some of the older children have been actively involved with construction. 

Entrepreneurship is another valuable skill that many of the children are learning, which is so important in the Congo because there are limited job opportunities. Supporting a family often requires setting up a small street-side stand or learning a trade and hiring out your services. Diye, one of the older boys, recently provided a tremendous example of the entrepreneurial spirit, when he suggested that rather than buying bricks to build the next phase of the septic system, why not buy a mould to make the bricks at the orphanage, which would allow the older children to earn an allowance by making bricks. Great thinking, Diye!