Congo Children Trust’s Director is back ‘home’
- ian54774
- Aug 2
- 3 min read
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 traffic points to growth. The impacts of the mining industry and the
associated service industries are visible with large mining trucks and vehicles passing at
close quarters with minibuses stuffed full of commuters and traders heading in and out of
town. Construction is evident all around. When I first moved here in 2009, multi-storey
buildings were a rarity, now they are emerging on every other street corner. We are told
that population has moved south to escape and avoid the precarious political situation in
the North and South Kivu in search of stability.
There is certainly a sense of stability here with daily life going on, shops and markets are
burgeoning with goods and customers, new restaurants and cafes appear alive with
customers, pointing to an emerging middle class with money to spend. Even out at Luowoshi, where we have two Kimbilio homes and a school on a plot which was
high in grass and surrounded by fields when I was first shown it in 2008, there is building
work going on all around and the fields have been displaced several kilometres further out
of town.
Alongside all of these positive signs, you don’t need to look too far to see the challenges.
Street children can be seen sniffing glue on street corners, roundabouts and down side
alleyways. Whilst supporting street children was what originally brought me to Lubumbashi
in 2009, it was hard to see them, they were often hidden away in market places, and if they
were to make their way into the city centre they were often chased away by guards and
police. These days they appear to be part of the street furniture. I am told, anecdotally, that
numbers of street children have soared over the last year.
What did I find at Kimbilio? Having had the original vision for Kimbilio and having been part
of the journey from the start, I continue to meet regularly online with the Kimbilio managers
and feel part of the family. However, you can’t beat, being here in person and seeing it all
with my own eyes.
I am delighted to find that Kimbilio is thriving under the very capable leadership of Director
Carine Bahati Nono. Spending time with the children at all four homes was special and gave
me the sense of children well cared for and valued. The Kimbilio school has also become a
significant focal point for vulnerable children and families in the area to find support and a
good quality education, our IT suite being the talk of the neighbourhood in a country where
many schools don’t have access to electricity, let alone a suite of PC’s. The school Director
Didier Ilunga sees the importance of pastoral care alongside his keen educational drive.
One of the very exciting tasks I’ve been involved in to date is measuring out the foundations
for the Kimbilio Vocational College which, once built, will offer vital skills and training to
local children graduating from the Kimbilio school. There is no other such a holistic facility in
this district and we expect it to be in high demand once it is complete.
We are only a few days into the visit and feel so welcome and at home here. The increasing
need is, however, compelling which is what drives us at Congo Children Trust to continue to
work hard to support the Kimbilio team in whatever way we can as well as driving forward
our plans for future growth. At times it feels that our work is just touching the tip of an
iceberg, however for those children we are supporting, it is clear that Kimbilio is more than
just a roof over their heads, it is family, and for those who no longer have a biological family
to support them, this is a precious gift.
Ian Harvey
Founding Director
Congo Children Trust
We hope you enjoy these slides from the first couple of days of Ian's visit!
