Celebrating Independence and More

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 since independence, the Congolese people continued to show their pride in country and their resilience in the face of so many challenges. This held true for the staff and children of Kimbilio. For the occasion of Independence Day, Kimbilio's care team gathered the boys and girls of Kimbilio's long-term homes to give thanks for Independence as well as for the good fortune to be at Kimbilio rather than in the streets, and to be inspired to make the most of life. In tandem they sought to set the tone for the summer without school.

The gathering was celebratory while including deeper takeaways for the children. Congratulations were shared for the children's matriculation to the next grades in school. The children were encouraged to take full advantage of the opportunities that are being presented to them: to read, to be housed, to attend church, to follow rules, to be responsible, to be supervised, and to distinguish themselves. They were reminded of the large number of street children that do not have these opportunities.

We hope you'll enjoy the video and photos of this time well spent.

#IndependenceDay #Lubumbashi #Luowoshi #DRCongo #DRC #StreetChildren #StreetConnectedChildren #HautKatanga