Congo Relief Mission supports nearly 200 children living in five orphanages in and around Mbuji-Mayi in the Democratic Republic of Congo. CRM pays primary and secondary school fees for these children and tuition for orphans who want to go to university. CRM also provides much-needed emergency food supplies in a region where ongoing conflict and political and economic uncertainty result in significant food insecurity. CRM supports sustainable nutrition for children living in the Congo by funding the development of locally-sourced nutritional supplements, including hiring a local nutritionist to make a nutritional supplement from soybeans and peanuts, supporting a project to develop large-scale farming of palm weevil larvae, and growing moringa trees to manufacture highly-nutritious leaf powder.

With the goal of self-sufficient orphanages in mind, Congo Relief Mission’s newest project involves farming and processing the leaves of the moringa tree as a nutrition supplement for the children. To date, 300 seedlings have been planted. The leaves of the moringa tree are rich in protein as well as a number of vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Iron, and Calcium. In addition, the moringa tree is a quick-growing tree and matures well on little water. Harvesting, drying, and storing the leaf powder requires low technology. All of this make it the perfect tree for providing under-privileged kids in Mbuji-Mayi with additional, needed nutrients.

CRM also supports projects at these orphanages intended to create sustainable local funding sources that generate money for daily needs. For example, in 2016 CRM provided each orphanage with a small motorcycle to rent out as a taxi in Mbuji-Mayi. In 2018, CRM purchased a chalk-making machine to allow schools in Mbuji-Mayi to purchase chalk locally rather than from Kinshasa and simultaneously support local orphans.

CRM would like to develop a farm in a rural area near Mbuji-Mayi to house and educate orphans and provide skills that orphaned children can use to support themselves into adulthood. This project will initially include the purchase of land, equipment, and supplies and the rehabilitation of buildings to house orphans.

CRM has contributed significantly to health care and education in Mbuji-Mayi. CRM built a primary and secondary school in Mbuji-Mayi that serve about 1400 students. A primary school that CRM built in the small village of Kamiji near Mbuji-Mayi serves another 700 students. CRM also initially funded sixty-nine teachers for these schools. The first class graduated in 2014. CRM provided internet access to these schools in 2013 with computers, solar panels, and antennae. CRM also helped to finance the construction of a hospital and medical clinic in Mbuji-Mayi.

Congo Relief Mission is proud to support Farms for Orphans, Inc. and their palm weevil larvae project. The success of this project in Kinshasa will create opportunities to develop similar nutritional programs in other areas of the Congo, including Mbuji-Mayi.

Congo Relief Mission is a member of the Colorado Coalition for African Empowerment.