The Story of Kitondo Community

Kitondo is located 50 kilometres east of Likasi, on the shores of Lake Changalele. This region in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is known for its exceptionally high rates of leprosy, tuberculosis, malaria and typhoid.

Within Kitondo there are challenges such as early marriage and spiritual practices that are contrary to the Gospel, which make life an even greater struggle for the people living there. There is no proper education system and no clinic. This results in people needing to walk or bike 25km to the nearest clinic – a near-impossible feat when sick. Additionally, there are no formal employment opportunities and people need to farm to survive – but without sufficient fertiliser, the harvest they yield is rarely enough.

70 Children currently Supported

7 Care Workers Coordinator by Marie

Basic Services Started in 2022

50 Km from the Likasi Local Office 

Since the Shibukeni Community Based Organisation (CBO) in Kisunka was formed in 2012, it has grown rapidly. Initially, volunteer Care Workers from the local church were caring for 50 of the most vulnerable children. However, over the years, as the vulnerability within Kisunka continued to grow, that number cared for has increased. The Care Workers have built relationships of love and trust with each child, knowing their family situation and individual needs. In knowing the children by name, the Care Workers are giving value and worth to each child. The Care Workers are passionate about advocating on behalf of the children they care for, identifying their needs by visiting them in their homes and spending time with them at the Care Points. In addition to supporting the children’s emotional and spiritual needs, the Shibukeni CBO is committed to ensuring that the children receive the three essential services of food security, education and basic health care.

For many years within Kisunka, four Care Points operated under the umbrella of the Shibukeni CBO. The purpose of having multiple Care Points was to limit the distance that the children have to travel. Kitondo was one of these Care Points.

In 2022, the Care Workers and the local Hands at Work team in Likasi decided to split Kisunka and Kitondo into their own individual CBOs – with their own leadership and team of Care Workers. It is an exciting step for the Kitondo CBO which, over the years, has continued to grow in its capacity and commitment to caring for the most vulnerable children.

Meet Naomi

Nine-year-old Naomi’s* mother, Esther*, a victim of early marriage, gave birth to Naomi when she was just 14 years old. By 19, Esther had three children and her husband had passed away. Esther left her children with their grandmother, Anna*, as she went to try and find work. Sadly, life with Grandmother Anna became even more challenging. After Anna divorced her first husband, she was remarried to a witch doctor. As he moved from community to community practising his work, so did Naomi and her siblings. Eventually, Anna divorced this man and moved back to Kitondo community.

The light of Christ is breaking into the darkness of Kitondo and into situations like these. When local Care Workers became aware of Naomi’s family, they invited her and her siblings to the local Care Point, where they began to see their health improve as they received regular food and access to the village clinic. Today, Naomi is a joyful girl who loves playing games.

The local Hands at Work team in Likasi currently supports nine Community Based Organisations, which exist to care for the most vulnerable in their communities. The office provides training, networking, and encouragement to those Community Based Organisations like Kitondo. It also gives administrative support, including helping with funding proposals, monitoring and evaluation, bookkeeping and reporting to donors.  

BE INSPIRED BY OTHER STORIES FROM THE DRC
Meet Mwete
Meet Mwete

Raising a large family isn’t easy but Mama Safi isn’t alone in caring for Mwete. He has a bigger family of support at the Care Point, with the Care Workers and the other children.

Update: Volcanic Eruption in Goma, DRC
Update: Volcanic Eruption in Goma, DRC

On Saturday evening we heard the news that there was an eruption of the volcano called Mount Nyiragongo, which is situated in Goma. And of course it immediately caused huge panic and people started fleeing into Rwanda immediately, and some people fled to the nearest city outside Goma called Sake.

Meet Tina
Meet Tina

Tina and her siblings were struggling with their health when they were discovered by the local volunteer Care Workers from the Maisha Community Based Organisation (CBO). Initially, Tina couldn’t play, and rarely smiled. Her hair was falling out, her belly was protruding and her feet were swollen; all symptoms that she was severely malnourished.

My Calling - Angel Musoka
My Calling - Angel Musoka

Through serving with Hands at Work, I have learned what it means to forgive. A few years ago, I felt the Holy Spirit telling me to forgive my auntie and pray a prayer of forgiveness. I was able to talk with her and release the bitterness and bondage that I had in my heart. Afterwards I felt joy and a new sense of connection with her.

A Vision that Keeps You Coming Back
A Vision that Keeps You Coming Back

I was surprised, moved and thankful for the things that had changed. New additions to the team. New Care Points serving more children than was previously possible. New dreams and imaginative possibilities for partnership with the international church.

Meet Liu
Meet Liu

In February 2017, Emerance, a dedicated local volunteer Care Worker, from the Maisha Community Based Organisation (CBO) was passing by the fields and noticed four young children working in the field and Liu laying lifeless in her great-grandmother’s lap; helpless and severally malnourished. Emerance acted out of compassion and urgency and took the children directly to the Care Point, so they could receive a meal that day. She knew that if they did not eat, there was a possibility that they would not survive.

2017 Watchword Reflections
2017 Watchword Reflections

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need and practice hospitality.” Romans 12:12-13

Several Hands at Work volunteers reflect on how the watchword for 2017 has impacted them:

Care Workers Across Africa
Care Workers Across Africa

Care Workers are the key in bringing healing and transformation to the lives of our children. They are men and women from the local churches within our communities who recognize their Biblical mandate and answer their call to care for the most vulnerable children. They demonstrate what it means to give freely, love unconditionally, and sacrifice everything. Often, Care Workers face their own traumas and live in dire poverty, just as the children they care for do, but their determination to persevere and care despite their own circumstances challenges everyone they come into contact with. They are greatest in the Kingdom of God!

A Miracle - Praise
A Miracle - Praise

Just a few weeks ago, Blessings had the opportunity to return to the DRC and visit Praise again. He shares an update about him and says, “This year Praise turned three. Last year when I met him, he was very sick – at two years old he was not able to stand on his own. I had very little hope that he would make it in life. We surrounded him with prayer and interceded, but I still had little hope, and doubt overwhelmed my heart.

Praise
Praise

Praise’s grandmother Bertha began caring for him, but she was desperately poor and trying to survive. Praise was hungry - continually crying. People in the community said he would die and tried to put ritual charms around him but Bertha refused and knew God would provide. After her husband passed away many years ago, she said she learned to trust God throughout any hardship.