DAN MAKI’S VISIT TO CONGO IN 2024
The trip to Congo was amazing! The groundwork for many things are underway for the coming year! The Hope for Orphans-Congo team visited the North and South Kivu provinces, in the Democratic Republic of Congo during the 5-week trip in February-March.
Hazel Maki drove Dan from Ottawa to Montreal on Tuesday, February 13 to fly out at 9:25 pm. After 3 transfers, 2 long layovers, and 16,789 kms, Dan finally landed in Goma at 12:35 pm (5:35 am Ottawa) Thursday, February 15. He was warmly greeted by friends and driven to the Ishango Guest House, where he stayed for 4 days. Four days in a nutshell:
Friday, Dan spoke to over a dozen people that came to the hotel to see him and give him a report of how things were going in their areas of Goma. Some clothes and things that were brought to Congo were presented.
Saturday, Dan attended the meeting with the Hope for Orphans-Congo team of North Kivu. The meeting began with everyone introducing themselves and telling what their role in the organization was. Afterwards, they shared experiences, discussed the purpose and goals of group. We, also, visited at The Invisible Kids Academy (TIKA) and met the 20 children, saw them dancing in unison, and listened to a few give their testimony of how TIKA has given them hope in their lives!
Sunday, Dan attended church with Pastor Simon and others in the morning, had lunch at the church, and then went back to the hotel to pack for trip to Bukavu the next day.
Monday, we left early for the port and boarded the boat Bukavu. The boat trip, which is usually 6 hours was 8 hours due to engine problems, making us two hours late, so we went directly to the church for a service.
The next three weeks we were in the city of Bukavu, South Kivu (pop. 870,954).
Week one, February 19-26
We started to dig a well for clean drinking water in the village of Nyantende with the chief Ntangazibwa, the territory of Kabare, in the area Kasihe of South Kivu. There are about 1,200 people in the area that will be getting their drinking water from that well!
Every day we visited different people during the day and had church services every night. Dan was interviewed by a local radio broadcaster at the end of a church service regarding what activities of the charity in DRC. We, also, visited a school called SAFARI School.
Week two, February 27-March 4
The second week we visited different schools. At the Weba Ndabijo School, where we support orphans and vulnerable children, we gave the kids school notebooks and pens. We, also, gave the school Administrators books and school tools, like a globe, to help teach geography. The school had a celebration and the students put on skits and some funny games for us.
A business in Kanata, ON formed a group called Helping Heroes. For three years, they have partnered with Hope for Orphans-Congo to establish a sewing school project for vulnerable women! We were happy to visit the sewing school, where women learn life skills, in addition to learning how to sew. Each woman shared how it has impacted their daily lives. A graduation ceremony was held for the eleven women who successfully completed the program. Besides their graduation diplomas, they each received their own sewing machine to begin their own business.
On Sunday, we attended the church service in Nyantende, where we met many more people and learned more about their customs, needs and personal lives.
We visited the Monseigneur de Mari Primary School led by Sister Ida. She said that their greatest need was for books for the teachers to use in teaching the children and for research. We are happy to report that we were able to supply some books for this school. While we were there, the students performed skits and songs. At the end, two students presented letters of appreciation to Dan and Pastor Floribert for the support provided to the orphans the charity helps there and for the books for the teachers.
In the same week, we planted 138 fruit trees in a village on land owned by Pastor Floribert. These will bear fruit in two to three years and will provide food and possible funds for other projects for years to come! We planted avocado, mango, papaya, orange, and nut trees.
The week ended with a church service in the village called Mazigiro, a remote village where you can see the beautiful landscapes of Congo! Three people accepted to be baptized in Jesus name. Church is a very important part of the lives of people in Congo.
Inspections were made of various fields with the thought of the best area to buy land to build an orphanage in the future. We visited friends, which we have been made during the last ten years. We stopped at the well being built to see how the work was going, and also visited the first well that was constructed two years ago. It was exciting to talk to people there who have been enjoying the clean drinking water that is so easily accessible now!
Week three, March 5-11
The third week started by a visit of friends. Afterwards, we visited some of the women who had finished the sewing school. Many questions were asked by us as to how the life skills and sewing training are helping them in their life, their family, and their community. Overall, the response was very positive.
We visited the primary school called Mudaka, Cinjoma in Kabare territory, where the charity built a clay brick classroom which was funded by a United Pentecostal church in PEI. Dan was able to accomplish his promise of funds for more desks and gave each of the teachers $5 as a thank you for their service to help the children in that village area.
Hope for Orphans-Congo team met inin Bukavu, South Kivu for a meeting. Dan answered different questions and possible projects were discussed. The group is excited about using their combined talents to help the orphaned children in their area.
Dan, also, visited some parts of Bukavu city, such as a few large markets (where phones are best kept hidden). Some of the sponsored children were visited and given small gifts.
The last Sunday before packing for the return to Goma, we had a church service in Nyantende Nobidjo.
Other important things:
Dan attended Pastor Floribert’s birthday meal, and met with the family.
Ideas on buying plots of land in Goma and Bukavu were discussed
Setting budget parameters for the 2024-2025 school year was discussed
ehicles in Goma and in Bukavu would greatly impact the work of the charity
Monday, March 11, we took a boat to Goma and rested when we reached the hotel.
Back in Goma:
On, Tuesday, March 12, early in the morning, we went to Lake Kivu for a baptismal service where five were baptized. Dan met with young men who are preparing to enter the army.
Wednesday and Thursday Dan was with a missionary in Goma, where they visited the youth prison. More than 50 young boys were present and Dan was able to talk with them through a local minister and encourage them that their lives had value and there was hope for a future! After coming from the missionary’s house, we had people visit at the Ishango Guest House to talk and share a meal. The insecurity in the city of Goma did not allow Dan to travel to different homes.
Friday, March 15, Dan visited the office of another NGO that works with animal and environment protection in Congo. He made contact with the leader of the group after he saw him in a National Geographic magazine article.
Saturday, March 16, a group of orphans that were raised in the orphanage in Kikamata came to the guest house to greet Dan. They shared a meal with us, and we had a good day learning about what has happened in their lives in the past four years. Those young men are the ones who started university in September 2023-2024 in Goma.
Sunday, March 17, Dan and Grace went to Pastor Janvier’s church and after the service we had a meal at the pastor’s house with his family.
Monday, March 18, Dan and Grace visited different schools. The first school was the Tumaini Primary School where the ten orphans and pygmies are helped. The second school was the New Generation Secondary School, where 18 orphans are helped: some are graduating this year. Two orphans from the Nengapeta School joined us there.
Afterward we drove through different Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps just to see how people are living in the camps. They are living in very poor conditions with limited access to clean water, food and shelter. Security is always an issue, too.
We concluded the day by going to see the orphans who were at La Grace Clinic but have moved. The number has increase and now there are 60 living in the house. Some are living with HIV and need medical treatment. The orphanage has many needs: food, medicine and funds for going to school.
We ended the evening with a supper at Kaliki’s house, a good friend of Dan’s and vital part of the work Hope for Orphans-Congo is doing in Goma.
Tuesday, March 19, we visited the school in Majengo where we work with Pastor Simon helping some orphaned children. Later, we visited the barbershop started in Goma to support orphans who have finished school, and then checked on Grace’s chicken project.
Wednesday, we had our last visits with people at the Ishango Guest House, and said goodbye to people.
Thursday, March 21 was the day Dan was leaving Congo. We are always sad to see him go.
Prepared by:
Grace Badesire
Hope for Orphans-Congo
Agent, General Secretary
Edited by Dan Maki
The trip to Congo was amazing! The groundwork for many things are underway for the coming year! The Hope for Orphans-Congo team visited the North and South Kivu provinces, in the Democratic Republic of Congo during the 5-week trip in February-March.
Hazel Maki drove Dan from Ottawa to Montreal on Tuesday, February 13 to fly out at 9:25 pm. After 3 transfers, 2 long layovers, and 16,789 kms, Dan finally landed in Goma at 12:35 pm (5:35 am Ottawa) Thursday, February 15. He was warmly greeted by friends and driven to the Ishango Guest House, where he stayed for 4 days. Four days in a nutshell:
Friday, Dan spoke to over a dozen people that came to the hotel to see him and give him a report of how things were going in their areas of Goma. Some clothes and things that were brought to Congo were presented.
Saturday, Dan attended the meeting with the Hope for Orphans-Congo team of North Kivu. The meeting began with everyone introducing themselves and telling what their role in the organization was. Afterwards, they shared experiences, discussed the purpose and goals of group. We, also, visited at The Invisible Kids Academy (TIKA) and met the 20 children, saw them dancing in unison, and listened to a few give their testimony of how TIKA has given them hope in their lives!
Sunday, Dan attended church with Pastor Simon and others in the morning, had lunch at the church, and then went back to the hotel to pack for trip to Bukavu the next day.
Monday, we left early for the port and boarded the boat Bukavu. The boat trip, which is usually 6 hours was 8 hours due to engine problems, making us two hours late, so we went directly to the church for a service.
The next three weeks we were in the city of Bukavu, South Kivu (pop. 870,954).
Week one, February 19-26
We started to dig a well for clean drinking water in the village of Nyantende with the chief Ntangazibwa, the territory of Kabare, in the area Kasihe of South Kivu. There are about 1,200 people in the area that will be getting their drinking water from that well!
Every day we visited different people during the day and had church services every night. Dan was interviewed by a local radio broadcaster at the end of a church service regarding what activities of the charity in DRC. We, also, visited a school called SAFARI School.
Week two, February 27-March 4
The second week we visited different schools. At the Weba Ndabijo School, where we support orphans and vulnerable children, we gave the kids school notebooks and pens. We, also, gave the school Administrators books and school tools, like a globe, to help teach geography. The school had a celebration and the students put on skits and some funny games for us.
A business in Kanata, ON formed a group called Helping Heroes. For three years, they have partnered with Hope for Orphans-Congo to establish a sewing school project for vulnerable women! We were happy to visit the sewing school, where women learn life skills, in addition to learning how to sew. Each woman shared how it has impacted their daily lives. A graduation ceremony was held for the eleven women who successfully completed the program. Besides their graduation diplomas, they each received their own sewing machine to begin their own business.
On Sunday, we attended the church service in Nyantende, where we met many more people and learned more about their customs, needs and personal lives.
We visited the Monseigneur de Mari Primary School led by Sister Ida. She said that their greatest need was for books for the teachers to use in teaching the children and for research. We are happy to report that we were able to supply some books for this school. While we were there, the students performed skits and songs. At the end, two students presented letters of appreciation to Dan and Pastor Floribert for the support provided to the orphans the charity helps there and for the books for the teachers.
In the same week, we planted 138 fruit trees in a village on land owned by Pastor Floribert. These will bear fruit in two to three years and will provide food and possible funds for other projects for years to come! We planted avocado, mango, papaya, orange, and nut trees.
The week ended with a church service in the village called Mazigiro, a remote village where you can see the beautiful landscapes of Congo! Three people accepted to be baptized in Jesus name. Church is a very important part of the lives of people in Congo.
Inspections were made of various fields with the thought of the best area to buy land to build an orphanage in the future. We visited friends, which we have been made during the last ten years. We stopped at the well being built to see how the work was going, and also visited the first well that was constructed two years ago. It was exciting to talk to people there who have been enjoying the clean drinking water that is so easily accessible now!
Week three, March 5-11
The third week started by a visit of friends. Afterwards, we visited some of the women who had finished the sewing school. Many questions were asked by us as to how the life skills and sewing training are helping them in their life, their family, and their community. Overall, the response was very positive.
We visited the primary school called Mudaka, Cinjoma in Kabare territory, where the charity built a clay brick classroom which was funded by a United Pentecostal church in PEI. Dan was able to accomplish his promise of funds for more desks and gave each of the teachers $5 as a thank you for their service to help the children in that village area.
Hope for Orphans-Congo team met inin Bukavu, South Kivu for a meeting. Dan answered different questions and possible projects were discussed. The group is excited about using their combined talents to help the orphaned children in their area.
Dan, also, visited some parts of Bukavu city, such as a few large markets (where phones are best kept hidden). Some of the sponsored children were visited and given small gifts.
The last Sunday before packing for the return to Goma, we had a church service in Nyantende Nobidjo.
Other important things:
Dan attended Pastor Floribert’s birthday meal, and met with the family.
Ideas on buying plots of land in Goma and Bukavu were discussed
Setting budget parameters for the 2024-2025 school year was discussed
ehicles in Goma and in Bukavu would greatly impact the work of the charity
Monday, March 11, we took a boat to Goma and rested when we reached the hotel.
Back in Goma:
On, Tuesday, March 12, early in the morning, we went to Lake Kivu for a baptismal service where five were baptized. Dan met with young men who are preparing to enter the army.
Wednesday and Thursday Dan was with a missionary in Goma, where they visited the youth prison. More than 50 young boys were present and Dan was able to talk with them through a local minister and encourage them that their lives had value and there was hope for a future! After coming from the missionary’s house, we had people visit at the Ishango Guest House to talk and share a meal. The insecurity in the city of Goma did not allow Dan to travel to different homes.
Friday, March 15, Dan visited the office of another NGO that works with animal and environment protection in Congo. He made contact with the leader of the group after he saw him in a National Geographic magazine article.
Saturday, March 16, a group of orphans that were raised in the orphanage in Kikamata came to the guest house to greet Dan. They shared a meal with us, and we had a good day learning about what has happened in their lives in the past four years. Those young men are the ones who started university in September 2023-2024 in Goma.
Sunday, March 17, Dan and Grace went to Pastor Janvier’s church and after the service we had a meal at the pastor’s house with his family.
Monday, March 18, Dan and Grace visited different schools. The first school was the Tumaini Primary School where the ten orphans and pygmies are helped. The second school was the New Generation Secondary School, where 18 orphans are helped: some are graduating this year. Two orphans from the Nengapeta School joined us there.
Afterward we drove through different Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps just to see how people are living in the camps. They are living in very poor conditions with limited access to clean water, food and shelter. Security is always an issue, too.
We concluded the day by going to see the orphans who were at La Grace Clinic but have moved. The number has increase and now there are 60 living in the house. Some are living with HIV and need medical treatment. The orphanage has many needs: food, medicine and funds for going to school.
We ended the evening with a supper at Kaliki’s house, a good friend of Dan’s and vital part of the work Hope for Orphans-Congo is doing in Goma.
Tuesday, March 19, we visited the school in Majengo where we work with Pastor Simon helping some orphaned children. Later, we visited the barbershop started in Goma to support orphans who have finished school, and then checked on Grace’s chicken project.
Wednesday, we had our last visits with people at the Ishango Guest House, and said goodbye to people.
Thursday, March 21 was the day Dan was leaving Congo. We are always sad to see him go.
Prepared by:
Grace Badesire
Hope for Orphans-Congo
Agent, General Secretary
Edited by Dan Maki
HoursM-F: 7am - 9pm
|
Telephone613-809-1348
|
|