The container that wouldn’t give up: A journey to Kimbilio
For weeks, everyone at Kimbilio had been waiting in excitement.
Readers of our earlier blog about loading the container will remember the extraordinary community effort that made this shipment possible. From collecting donations and sourcing equipment to packing every available space inside the container, supporters across the UK played their part in a project that would eventually travel thousands of miles to Democratic Republic of Congo.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Tools with a Mission (TWAM) and All Hallows Church, led by Rev Nicola Milford, whose support was instrumental in making the shipment possible. All Hallows generously provided storage space and hosted the final packing operation, with volunteers working tirelessly for six hours. For some volunteers, the day began even earlier, with a 6:30am start in Manchester loading donated items that had been stored in various
garages, at St Margaret's Church, Whalley Range, and at the St Margaret's Centre, home of the Congo Children Trust office.
The container left Liverpool on 15 May and began a long journey via Rotterdam, Salalah in Oman and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania before continuing by road through Zambia and into D.R. Congo.
Packed inside were resources that will help equip Kimbilio's soon-to-open vocational college and provide opportunities for young people to develop practical, lifelong skills. The shipment included desks, chairs, computers, laptops, office furniture, hairdressing equipment, toys and educational resources, alongside sports equipment including a table tennis table, table football and boxing gear. Special thanks are due to Sarah Perry and Jenny Appleby, who spent weeks sourcing many of these items, as well as Wolverhampton Rotary Club, Yokogawa and Moss Side Fire Station Boxing Club for their generous donations.
However, the journey would not be entirely straightforward.
The first challenge came before the container had even crossed into the DRC. Upon arrival at the Zambia-DRC border crossing at Kasumbalesa on 23 July, local advice suggested that transporting the container through an alternative crossing at Mokambo, around 80 kilometres west, would significantly reduce costs. Those savings could instead be invested directly into the Kimbilio project.
The change made financial sense but required entirely new paperwork. Documents had to be rewritten, resubmitted and approved, resulting in delays of almost five days.
The container waited, and the team waited.
Finally, on 28 July, the truck carrying the container resumed its journey. It arrived at Mokambo the following day, but there was still more waiting ahead. The container remained at the border for several more days while customs formalities were completed before eventually crossing into D.R. Congo and continuing towards Lubumbashi.
Excitement was building with the finish line in sight, but another obstacle soon emerged. There was no crane available to move the container from the truck to its intended location. A weekend and public holiday added further delays, forcing the vehicle and driver to remain parked while local teams searched for a solution.
Once again, the container waited. And once again, the determination of the Kimbilio team shone through.
After several days of problem-solving, a crane was finally secured through local contacts. On 5 August, around a week and a half later than originally predicted, the container completed the final stage of its journey and arrived at the Luwowoshi site. Much of the delay had been caused by lengthy queues of lorries waiting to cross the Zambia-DRC border.
The container was fully unloaded on 14 August, revealing its precious contents and opening the next chapter in Kimbilio's story.
What began many months earlier through fundraising, donations and the dedication of volunteers had finally become reality. The resources that have now arrived will play a vital role in the development of Kimbilio's vocational college, supporting training in practical trades and helping young people gain the skills, confidence and opportunities needed to build brighter futures.
The Kimbilio community's reaction was unforgettable, and the photographs speak for themselves.
For now, we celebrate not only the successful arrival of another container, but also the remarkable partnership of supporters, volunteers, churches, businesses and charities who helped make it happen. Every desk, chair, computer and piece of equipment tells a story of generosity. Together, they will help equip the next generation of young people at Kimbilio with the tools they need to thrive.
Comments