Livestock for Orphaned Children in Congo

My name is Sam. I live in a village called Boyambi, which is very close to the city of Gemena in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I am one of the beneficiaries of the AFCA project.

We thank the Almighty God for the grace He granted us to meet with the AFCA project as we are very grateful for this project. I had the chance to enter the project through orphan, Lisa, when her father died in June 2015 when she was 3 years old. Her parents both contracted AIDS in 2007, making them so weak that they could not even work. Lisa’s parents died, one after the other and I, as a youngest brother, took her to keep her at my house with my children.  At that time my family and I were spending roughly $1 for food for the whole family per day and between that and the cost of schooling my children, we faced very intense difficulties. Sometimes the children did not study because of lack of means for fees and food. Thankfully, in 2019, we started the project where we were trained in agriculture, gardening and animal husbandry.

We had been fortunate to be provided by AFCA with working tools such as a hoe, spade, machete, watering can, and seeds (cowpea, peanut, and corn as well as vegetables for the garden).

As far as livestock is concerned, AFCA gave us 4 sheep, including 3 females and a male.  From late 2019 to 2023, the animals have multiplied and right now, we have 10 healthy sheep.   Regarding the reimbursement of the animals at AFCA - I have already reimbursed 2 females at AFCA and I know that next year I will do everything possible to reimburse the last female sheep to facilitate other families to become beneficiaries of AFCA because I want them to experience wealth, too.

Through the sale of extra vegetables and corn we grow, I built a sheet metal house with bricks, the children go to school and everyone is in good health because they are stronger. The little girl who came to us when she was 3 years old is now 12 years old. She is doing well and she is in 4th year of primary school.  We have gone from spending $1 for food per day to $3, meaning we are all healthier and not hungry anymore. I can say this project to changed our way of life and we are very happy.

The team here at the American Foundation for Children with AIDS thanks you for supporting this project and the work we do for the children in Africa.  As you start to make decisions regarding your giving this year, please keep us in mind so we can continue our good work through 2023 and beyond.  If you would like to learn even more about what we do or how you can meet some of the children you have helped, please contact Tanya Weaver at tweaver@AFCAids.org.