So much was accomplished on this July trip to Kalehe! The best part, of course, is being with the children and seeing how they are healthy, happy, learning and growing. The pictures below show views of Kalehe mountains, the market in the village, the Kalehe hospital where our children go and the donations we brought from West Michigan, the new sheets for the children (they were so excited about the colors and that they got to pick out their own set), guitars that were bought in the DRC and donated to local churches through a special music grant, new drums and music shakers for our children from that grant also, a replacement water container, new gardens that groups of our children are taking responsibility for on their own, pictures showing how our children’s sewing skills are getting quite good, Baby Israel is doing so well, and lastly…. saying goodbye is always so hard!
Summer 2024!
Kalehe mountains
Kalehe village market
Local children just outside the orphanage
Kalehe village hospital where our children go if they need medical help
We donated medical supplies to the hospital.
Our children excited to pick out their new colorful bed sheets
Michael showing how to tune the new guitar
Pastor showing his congregation the gift
Clovis on the new drums!
The new water tank being delivered
Christophe helping others to install the new tank
Children's new garden area
Elizabeth working on her sewing project
All of the sewing girls showing off their latest creations
Baby Israel and his caretaker Rehema
Playing games in the yard
Summer 2024 Family Picture!
Saying goodbye
Summer 2023
Michael was able to join Christophe for the first time this Summer to meet the children. These two friends worked together over two years ago to form Christophe’s Children. They also met some of the families of the victims from the May 2023 mudslides and brought donations from West Michigan generous hearts. These two worked with the King of Kalehe to fix the orphanages water access problem, met with local business leaders to find ways to boost the local economy, and negotiated the purchase of the land next to our orphanage for the purpose of potential future housing, livestock and farming. The pictures below show some of the adventures they had over 6 days in Kalehe.
Michael tuning the guitar donated to our children
Sharing smiles with victims of the mudslides
The children love taking selfies
Christophe, the King of Kalehe, and Michael
The kids are AMAZING at jump rope!
Learning to play UNO
Playing with all of their new outdoor toys from Trinity!
Having fun in the yard!
Christophe and Michael in Bukavu buying supplies
The children waving goodbye with one of Christophe's Uncles (who volunteers and helps house dad Espoir around the house with work)
Christophe’s January 2023 Trip!
Christophe and his wife Benita just returned from surprising the children in Kalehe on New Years with hugs and gifts from West Michigan! The children also were given a special meal of fruits and juices, and new quilts donated to them from Trinity Lutheran Church Quilters. There was much singing and joy! The video below shows the prayers shared on the last day for safe travels and blessings, a beautiful song the children learned, and a big thumbs up from Dieu Merci.
Prayers! Thank you! Thumbs Up!
The last three seconds of this video sum up so much of what the children wish to say to all of you. They pray for you all. They are so appreciative of your prayers from 7,500 miles away, and ask for blessings on you and your families. They want you to know how thankful they are for EVERYTHING! They want you to know they are doing really well!
The Children Move Home!
The first 27 of Christophe’s Children move into their permanent new home, made just for them, July 2, 2022! AND they welcomed 29 new brothers and sisters off the streets of Kalehe to be part of their family.
A new home, built for 56 children, complete with clean running water and solar panels for reliable energy!
Pictures below (from left to right) show the outdoor buildings that were built along with the home, including an outdoor meeting space, a rainwater collection tank, and outdoor toilets. The first day of school was Friday, September 2nd and everyone had their uniforms, supplies and backpacks ready to go. The pictures along the bottom of this section show the children receiving soccer balls donated from Trinity Lutheran Church youth, (soccer is a HUGE deal to these kids) and receiving new backpacks donated from Gecko brands, both located in Grand Rapids MI.
The new Christophe's Childrens Home!
The children in their school uniforms on the first day of school with their new backpacks donated by Gecko brands
New soccer balls for the children from Trinity's VBS children!
Very happy children with so much given to them from loving hearts in West Michigan
He loves his new backpack!
Sharing Hope
A few computers were donated from a local West Michigan school to bring to Kalehe for the students in the community to use. Here you see Christophe giving the principal of the school the computers and a few extra soccer balls. Your generosity benefits not only the most vulnerable in Kalehe, our 56 children, but also other children in the impoverished area of Kalehe.
January 2022, Christophe is able to visit again and see that the children are growing and healthy and happy!
January 2022 Christophe walking to school with the Children
January 2022: Christophe and Jeremie
January 2022: The children walking through the city center of Kalehe.
January 2022: The Children along with other students from Kalehe, at school listening to their principal and Christophe give some encouraging words before classes begin.
January 2022: Christophe and the Children walking to Christophe's family land to see where a new home could be built. Elizabeth is carrying Josue on her back.
January 2022: The Children and Christophe on his family land that he is donating to build a permanent home for the orphaned and homeless children of Kalehe. Construction to begin in March 2022.
October 2021: Singing and praying before they head off to school everyday.
October 2021: Singing and dancing
October 2021: Fresh mangos!
October 2021: More mangos!!
October 2021: Relaxing with one of the volunteers from the Kalehe community.
September 2021: Summer Break took place during the month of September this year, and the children really wanted to see Bukavu, a big city near Kalehe. None of them had ever been in a car before or outside of Kalehe.
September 2021: Thumbs up! Excited to get on the road.
September 2021: One of the stops in Bukavu was to an orphanage to meet children in similar situations, have some food, and have some fun!
September 2021: A Kalehe friend donated the matching t-shirts for the children to wear on this trip. Wearing matching outfits is culturally what many families in the DRC do. So all of the children matched, like a big family.
September 2021: Another stop in Bukavu to see new things and meet new people.
September 2021: Two of the older children, Ashuza and Binja, asked if they may begin to learn to sew over their month long Summer break. A seamstress in Kelehe agreed to teach them this life long skill.
September 2021: School supplies purchased for the children for the 2021-22 school year which begins October 4th.
September 2021: Everyone gets school supplies.
September 2021: Lots of new things to look through for school.
October 2021: After singing prayers and dancing with a new drum and tambourines that were donated to the children from a member of the Kalehe community, the children are ready to start their new 2021-22 school year!
A Better Temporary Home!
Summer of 2021, the temporary shelter no longer was available, so volunteers in Kalehe found a house to rent that was big enough to hold the children and house Moms.
All 27 children go back to school !
March 2021: School uniforms, school supplies, homework, and community tutors become part of their daily lives
April 2021: Working hard on math exercises!
April 2021: Cleaning dishes after supper.
April 2021: It's not ALL homework and chores...there is plenty of time to have fun and be a kiddo.
April 2021: A little reading before bedtime.
April 2021: The older children help the younger ones during circle time tutoring.
Christophe and the Children in February 2021
February 2021: A meal of beans, rice and juice brought about fifty children into the restaurant/bar space that the owner allowed Christophe to use that day for this purpose.
February 2021: Hugs given after dinner was provided.
February 2021: The children singing a "get to know you" song in French with their names in it.
February 2021: Pascal was so scared and so shy he barely spoke. But he learned to give high fives and smiled more at dinner too.
February 2021:These two brothers were born with tumors on their backs. They are so kind and happy. With your support now, they can now receive basic medical care.
February 2021: Beds, blankets, mosquito netting and other donated items from the community for the children.
February 2021: The food storage building that has been converted to a temporary shelter for the children.
February 2021: Beds, blankets, mosquito netting and other donated items from the community for the children.