Another year has come to an end, and we would like to thank you for your continued faithful support which made it possible to keep giving the children a good education and supplement their diet with wholesome food. We are so thankful for you and we pray these highlights will warm your hearts as you get a glimpse of what your support has helped to accomplish.

The country continues to face enormous challenges: the war in the East and the plundering of mining resources by armed groups, crime and corruption, lack of respect for human rights, the economic crisis, malaria, typhoid fever and other life-threatening diseases, the collapse of houses in poor neighborhoods during floods, the loss of human lives… Hats off to our local partners who, in the face of such difficulties, continue to sacrifice their time, energy and resources to aid of the most destitute and thus change their part of the world.

Goals #1 & #7: Zero Hunger and No Poverty

• Distribution of staple foods (milk, rice, meat, canned fish, spaghettis, maize flour, sugar, tomato puree, salt), household, sanitary products, and occasional toys and clothing to underprivileged children and mothers.
• Distribution of snacks and hot meals to the children
• Distribution of baby clothes, diapers, milk, basic food and household items to needy mothers who deliver their babies in our clinic.
• Farming (growing fruit trees and vegetables)
• Tailoring training to enable women to learn a trade and earn a living.

 

Goals #2 & 3: Quality Education & Gender Equality

• Schooling of 396 students, 225 in Primary school and 171 in Secondary School, including 194 boys and 202 girls.
• 98% of our students passed to the next grade.
• Distribution of notebooks, pens, schoolbooks and library books.
• Distribution of sanitary products to teenage girls, which enabled them not to miss a day of school and to excel in their exams as 97% of the girls passed!
• Donation of playground equipment.
• Monthly inspections by the Ministry of Education who has chosen our school as an examination center year after year and even featured our school on the cover of the new Science Manuals.
• Scholarship for Ana who is starting her 2^nd year of doctorate in medical school.

Goal #4: Good Health and Well-Being

• Medical care of 1,500 patients, including 70 orphaned and underprivileged children in Kikimi.
• Pre and post-natal care to 76 women, including the delivery of 110 healthy babies.
• Two surgery operations.

 

 

Sustainable Development: Goals #5 & 6

–Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable & Clean Energy, Maintenance

• Maintenance of the bore well, including thorough cleansing of the solar pump, pipes, water cisterns, lab analysis of the water, and replacement of the controller which had been damaged by a lighting bolt. The solar bore well has continued to be a blessing to the population of Kikimi, minimizing greatly water-borne diseases.
• Regular maintenance of the ambulance.

Children Ministry

• Flourishing children’s ministry using the Character-Building STEPS Program in various parts of Kinshasa.
• Special Christmas programs for underprivileged children in several parts of Kinshasa.
• One of our main Youth leaders got married this year.

Youth Ministry

• Monthly fellowships and seminars for the youth.
• Road trips to other provinces to hold youth seminars.
• Hospital visitation and distribution of goods in General Hospital.

Last but not least…

One of our main Youth leaders got married this year! Congratulations to the happy couple.

Our association in France presented Espoir Congo Project in the City Forum at the beginning of September.

 

Thanks

Thanks to your generosity and your goodwill, the project is flourishing, and the children are receiving a good education and are being well cared for. THANK YOU so much: CONGO FOODS (Mr. Abdul), MARSAVCO, Ali and Sameera, Farah Rawji, RAF GLOBAL (Vipul and Sunita), Rizwan Adatya Foundation, the French School of Kinshasa, St Mary the Virgin Church, Mr. Mahesh, Mr. Alibhai, Jean-Emile, Mr and Mrs Rathi Mukund, Deepak & Neema Shukla and GGMart, Mr and Mrs Tassi, Mr and Mrs Obed, the Paschke Family, WeLiftUp, Marie-Thérèse, Yvan, Renate, FMF and those who preferred to remain anonymous. We feel privileged to be working together with you to make this world a better place and to brighten the lives of those who are less fortunate. May God richly bless you.

Happy New Year 2023!

As the midnight hour chimes

We leave the old and embrace the new.

I wish the things you wish for yourself

And may God’s love comfort you.

***

FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING,

PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS:

1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:

1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:

1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another

NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS:

1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another

TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN, WE MUST HAVE THYME:

1. Thyme for each other
2. Thyme for family
3. Thyme for friends

WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE.

THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.