By Overseas Team | Member of Overseas Team
Project Summary
In the conflict-torn South Kivu region of DR Congo, vulnerable children and orphans are at severe risk of being recruited by armed groups or forced into slave labor in conflict mines. Education is their strongest shield. This project provides emergency school supplies and vital livelihood support to families, keeping children safely in classrooms and giving them hope for a peaceful future.
Our Project Story
Fleeing with Nothing but the Clothes on Their Backs
Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to the sound of gunfire. You are forced to run, leaving behind your home, your belongings, and the life you knew. For 58 newly displaced children who recently arrived in the Kalonge area from surrounding regions, this nightmare is a reality. They arrived with absolutely nothing. Many have lost their parents to the violence.
Due to recent severe escalations in armed violence, the security situation in South Kivu, DR Congo, has rapidly deteriorated. Over the last six months, violent clashes between various armed factions have surged. Tragically, it is the most vulnerable who are paying the highest price: the poorest families, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and orphans.
The Looming Threat: Combat or Conflict Mines
Right now, these children are in grave danger. Armed groups are actively recruiting youth to bolster their frontlines. When families cannot afford to feed their children, desperation sets in. Without intervention, these boys and girls face two horrifying fates: being handed a rifle as child soldiers or being forced into slave labor in illegal gold and tantalum mines to survive.
We cannot let this happen. We must act now.
Education is their strongest shield.
At Terra Renaissance, we believe that the classroom is the safest place for a child in a conflict zone. Despite receiving no support from the central government, incredibly resilient local communities are pooling their meager resources to keep their schools open.
Going to school dramatically reduces a child's risk of being conscripted. Thanks to early supporters, we recently provided emergency relief—uniforms, backpacks, and stationery—to 231 highly vulnerable children. This included 124 orphans and displaced children, now safely enrolled across four local primary schools.
Why We Need You NOW
While getting these children into school is a critical first step, emergency school supplies alone cannot permanently prevent child conscription. The root cause is extreme poverty.
We urgently need your help to expand this program. We must provide sustained livelihood support for the host families and vulnerable households caring for these orphans. If these families can build a sustainable income, they will not be forced to send their children to the mines or the militias. The fighting is intensifying, and the window to protect these at-risk youth is closing.
About Us
Terra Renaissance has been working on the ground in DR Congo, directly alongside local leaders and communities. We are committed to transparency, community-led solutions, and the fundamental belief that every child deserves a childhood free from violence. We have already safely placed hundreds of children into schools during this crisis—but with your help, we can reach hundreds more.
Stand With Us Today
Every day we wait, another child is at risk of being lost to the conflict. You have the power to change their story. You can offer them a pen instead of a weapon, and a future instead of fear.
Please click the Donate button now to protect Congo's children. Share this project with your friends and family. Together, we can ensure that no more lives or dignity are lost to this conflict.
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By Channie Cheung | Member of Overseas Team
By Channie Cheung | Member of Overseas Team
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