Different paths suit different children. They have their own passions and dreams. Kimbilio nurtures those dreams and then supports the children as they pursue them. Some children aspire to attend university. Currently, Kimbilio pays the academic fees of 6 students attending the University of Lubumbashi. Today we celebrate one of them: Enock. Kimbilio supported Enock during his earlier school years and then at University. He studied Psychology, and he just defended succes

The results are in...we're delighted to share the news that for the 2024/25 academic year, all 52 of the sixth graders at the Kimbilio...

This post was written by long-time Kimbilio supporter Sarah P., who was part of the Congo Children Trust team that visited Kimbilio this...

Back in Lubumbashi, my former home for five years, after a gap of 2 years, what do I find? The first stand out which is impossible to miss, is the increase in traffic, we spent a significant part of the first few days stuck in traffic jams. Not a very attractive past time you may think, however, it gave us valuable time to catch up with our hosts, the Kimbilio management team, whilst observing all the sights and sounds of this beautiful, bustling, busy city. The increase in t

There's nothing more fulfilling than when a street child is reintegrated with their family. Kimbilio's social workers put in tremendous...

On June 30, 1960, the DR Congo achieved independence from Belgium. The path forward has been tumultuous. Right after independence, the first Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba, was assassinated. In 1965, Mobutu Sese Selo seized power in a coup that turned into a dreadful 30 year dictatorship. In the late 1990s, a brutal civil war began. While it officially ended in 2003, achievement of lasting peace and stability remains evasive. This past week, while celebrating 65 years s

At Kimbilio's five facilities, nourishment of children is a crucial aspect of care and community. The main meal at all locations centers on fufu, known locally as bukari. Bukari is made from maize meal (corn flour), which is added to boiling water and stirred constantly to get to a thick, smooth consistency that is stretchier and somewhat firmer than mashed potatoes. It is usually accompanied by chicken or by Thompson fish, which is a type of mackerel. Once per week, rice

Six months ago, 11 year old Dany came off the street to the Kimbilio outreach center for the first time. His father had died. The...

Safety at the Kimbilio Mapendo School has been greatly enhanced by the now complete security wall and guard house, thanks to the...

Access to clean, safe water is challenging across the DR Congo. Lubumbashi is no exception. The city faces a water shortage, with infrastructure deficiencies, climate change and rapid urbanization as contributing factors. Less than one-half of the population has access to water. In 2022, a young resident of the Kalubwe District of Lubumbashi described the difficult water situation where he lives in this short but compelling video. Kalubwe is about 9 kilometers from the Ki

The DR Congo is in the top 10 of the least electrified countries in the world. According to the World Bank, less than 17% of households have access to any electricity at all. Some estimates put the figure at less than 10%. The country's population has gone from 15+ million in the 1960's, to a current estimate of 102+ million, with concurrent worsening of the gap between supply and demand. The potential in hydropower and solar resources is there; the federal infrastructure

Today is International Day for Street Children. Today, we recognize that millions of children around the world live and work on the...

Field trips give the children of Kimbilio the opportunity to converse, relax and explore. Last week, boys and girls living at Kimbilio's...

While the media are focused on the conflict in Eastern DR Congo, Kimbilio's home city of Lubumbashi - 1000 miles away from the conflict - is battling a cholera outbreak that is getting scarce mention in the press. Officials declared it an epidemic earlier this month and have moved forward aggressively with efforts to combat it. The disease is present in all seven of Lubumbashi's communes. Cholera is a bacterial disease of the intestines that is spread through contaminated w

Between the 25th and 28th March 2025 Global Giving will provide a match of 50% on your gift up to $50 as part of their Little by Little campaign. We have been saddened by the horrific events which are coming to light due to the escalating conflict in the east of DRC. These events are having an impact on life on the ground in Lubumbashi. A nighttime curfew has been put in place. Fuel costs have increased leading to increased costs in foods often imported from South Africa via

#InternationalWomensDay in the DR Congo is widely celebrated with women's conferences, outings and shared meals. Casual clothes give way to absolutely stunning African attire. At Kimbilio each year, the women and girls rejoice in the day with a special outing to a pizza restaurant. For the girls, it is often the only restaurant visit of the year, and for Kimbilio newcomers, it is often their first restaurant visit ever. It's a great opportunity to dress up, feel good, meet

Five young mothers have put in the hard work to attain better futures for themselves and their children. We extend hearty congratulations to them for their recent graduation from the Young Mums program. Kimbilio's Young Mums program provides hairdressing salon and basic business skills training to teenage mums. We give the girls a kit of hairdressing and nail supplies at the end of their 5 month training so that they can set up their own micro business with the hope they do

Learn about artisanal mining and child labour in the mines in the DR Congo.

There is a Japanese proverb that says, "Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher." Case in point:...

Following is a message from Ian Harvey, the founder of Kimbilio and Director of Congo Children Trust: We are concerned by the unfolding conflict in eastern D.R.C. which has led to the taking over of Goma by rebel militia. The conflict has led to thousands of people being displaced and living in camps for displaced persons. Access to the essentials such as health care, food and water are not readily available. The national leaders are attempting to find solutions to the decade