Last Updated on December 10, 2025 by Johann Van Rensburg
International Widows and Orphans Fund (iWof) was formed out of the concern for orphans in one of the world’s most dangerous places to live – Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
It started from an e-mail of an orphanage Director to a friend, telling the story of 38 orphans being taken into the woods to hide from rebel soldiers who terrorized towns in eastern DRC.
Our volunteers make this possible and are the key to our fiscal responsibility. Together, we are saving lives.
As a registered Canadian charity, your donation is tax-deductible, allowing you to give with both impact and benefit.
We are breaking down the barriers to education by helping poor and vulnerable children – including those who are living in conflict and disaster zones – access early childhood and primary school services.
Our work is leading the way in improving literacy and numeracy skills, helping teachers to teach and children to learn.
Since 2013, we have been supporting an orphanage in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the poorest and dangerous countries in central Africa. Started by two local residents, war orphans themselves, with a small team of volunteers in 2008,they provide housing, clothing, food, healthcare, and education to 35 children. Orphaned by war and poverty, the children live in a safe place.
A newly opened reading centre with two classrooms has been added to Grace Orphanage in the Uvira area of the DRC. The centre offers a 9-month program to teach women, widows, and single mothers how to read, write, and develop a business plan — with access to a $100 microloan to help launch their small businesses.
You can also visit the official government-registered donation portal at CanadaHelps.org. While there’s no requirement to go through them, it offers the same benefits we do — a tax receipt and a registered charity number — giving you peace of mind that your hard-earned money is going directly to the people who need it most.
Plus, we’re always looking for more volunteers — let us know if you’re interested!
If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. We have ambitious goals, and your support is crucial in helping us achieve them.
Our efforts are transforming the lives of those born in places where opportunities are scarce.
When a group of passionate volunteer professionals — with careers in banking, law, and accounting — come together, amazing things happen. We created a Canadian registered charity and donate our time and expertise. This includes managing grants, tax filings, incorporations, and ensuring your money is used in the most efficient way possible.
The orphanage supported by the International Widows and Orphans Fund (IWOF) is located in the city of Uvria in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), one of the poorest and most dangerous countries in central Africa. Since 2013, IWOF has been assisting this orphanage, which was initiated by two local residents and a small team of volunteers in 2008. The orphanage provides housing, clothing, food, healthcare, and education to 46 children who have been orphaned due to war and poverty.?
Originally, the children and staff reside in a rented home where 3 to 4 children share a bed, and all 35 share three bedrooms and one toilet. Food is prepared without running water, which is hauled by the older children from Lake Tanganyika. While drinking water is purified with tablets, un-sanitized water is used for washing dishes, clothes, and bathing the children.
Through the generosity of our donors, over the past 8 years we have purchased land, secured the site with a security wall, constructed 5 small houses, installed a fresh water well, solar systems, a kitchen and a Learning centre. The children now have electricity and clean, running water for the first time in their lives.
To improve these conditions, IWOF has purchased 2 acres of fertile land and is raising funds to construct a permanent facility that will house 60 orphans, include a well, and support a farm to grow their own food.
The site is even large enough to grow some fresh vegetables for the orphanage For more information about the orphanage and the children, you can visit Grace Orphanage.
Are you interested in volunteering, getting more involved — or even visiting the project in Congo someday? We’re always looking for passionate individuals who want to make a real impact. Whether it’s helping on the ground or lending your skills from home, there’s a place for you here.
We’re also actively seeking corporate sponsors who want to support a cause where every dollar truly counts. If you or your company would like to get involved, we’d love to connect.
Planning a visit to the Congo? We can coordinate efforts to facilitate supplies for the orphanage. From organizing a used cellphone drive to collecting feminine hygiene products and other essential items, your support could make a tangible difference in the lives of the women and children we serve.
Let’s work together to bring hope where it’s needed most.
IWOF.ca is a 100% volunteer-run Canadian Registered Charity committed to making a direct and meaningful impact in the Democratic Republic of Congo. With zero administrative overhead, every dollar donated goes straight to helping widows and orphans through food, shelter, education, and medical care. The team—made up of professionals in banking, law, and accounting—donates their time and expertise, ensuring the highest level of transparency and efficiency. Even the website, advertising, and travel expenses are covered by volunteers themselves. IWOF exists to bring hope, dignity, and practical support to some of the world’s most vulnerable—because every life matters. https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/international-widows-orphans-fund-society/
Yes! Why pay PayPal fees when your donation can go directly to those in need? Please email us at info@iwof.ca, and we’ll send you a tax receipt
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