Report from BHW DR Congo Partnership Facilitator

Key person: George Pirwoth Atido

The last visit to this partnership was in 2019 when Kevin Honore, partnership facilitator, took Jean-Paul Tingityabo with him and spent three days in Bunia. A further trip was supposed to occur in 2021, however COVID put paid to that. A visit is currently planned for August this year however the current lack of security in Bunia has meant that the BHW team will not go into Bunia but will spend three days with George in Kampala, Uganda. 

Recent Events

Context

As security conditions in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo worsened, the government was prompted to enact martial law for both North Kivu and Ituri Provinces in May 2021 along with the replacement of the civilian administration with a military one. This decision came in response to increasing violence attributed to various armed groups, including the ADF, an Islamic terrorist group that has killed at least 330 people since January 2021 in both provinces and bombing a church. This has led many civilians to leave the rural areas and move into Bunia and other safer places. It is hard for our partners here to wake up day by day with the news of killing and displaced people, then try to organize well their works.

Insecurity in the region has resulted in and increasing number of children in displaced camps, in the streets or in some host families. A recent report listed 21,494 children including 10,290 girls and 11,194 boys in displaced camps around Bunia who are not going to school. These children are begging for help and recently some became violent to try and extort money from people. 

Churches and social organizations are overwhelmed by the growing number of these children. Many church leaders have sent their families to Bunia for safety, and this has placed huge pressure on churches and church leaders.  

Activities

The number of children in this programme supported by BHW remains the same at 80 and they still have the five pools as below. The numbers are the same because as a child leaves, for whatever reason, another is added. The influx of so many children of university alumni has put a lot of pressure on the programme. 

Pool Ngezi: 20 children in primary and 5 in secondary
Pool Cite: 20 children in primary and 10 in secondary
Pool Shalom: 20 children in primary and 5 in secondary
Pool Mbio: 10 children in primary and 5 in secondary
Pool Rwampara: 10 children in primary and 5 in secondary

Total = 80 children in primary school and 30 children in secondary school  

Key Leaders - George and Jacqueline Atido

George is the chancellor of Shalom University and has many responsibilities. The university has almost 1,500 students and is rated in the top 10 universities in the country, even though it is small in comparison. George is very busy running the university and dealing with all the demands of the role. He has just been away in Switzerland for a month on a book writing project funded by Langham Scholars. He is recognised as a community leader because of his position and so gets drawn into decision making and discussions by the local authorities. 

George and Jacqueline had a health scare with their daughter Divine at the end of 2023. Doctors discovered a mass in a breast, and she was taken to Uganda for treatment. Fortunately, the mass was benign.  

Personal Stories (written by George)

Bisau: Grace and resilience 

On the night of May 30, 2021, armed men from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attacked Tchabi, a village in the Ituri region that was home to an Emmanuel Church mission station. The ADF, considered the deadliest of the 122 armed groups active in eastern Congo, killed around 50 people that night. The remaining villagers were forced to flee to surrounding areas, with some seeking refuge in Bunia, about 100 km away.

Among the victims was the family of a young boy named Bisau. On that night, Bisau, one of 12 siblings, had his parents and seven siblings (five brothers and two sisters) killed. His father, the headmaster of the village’s secondary school, was likely targeted by the ADF as an influential community leader. Traumatized, Bisau had to flee from the village.

Fortunately, on June 1st, 2021, the Emmanuel Church (brethren church) headquarters in Bunia sent a truck to collect those who wished to relocate. However, the church lacked the resources to provide for the displaced. Most found shelter in Pastor Samoli’s church and school, with whom Rehema Ministries had been partnering to assist displaced children. Pastor Samoli hosted around 75 people, but after two months, many had to find hosting families in Bunia.

Bisau, however, had nowhere to go. He ended up living on the streets until his displaced cousin, also struggling, provided him with basic shelter. On November 9, 2023, Bisau came to Pastor Samoli in tears, expressing his desire to continue his education and complete his final year of secondary school, which would train him as a primary school teacher. Recognizing Bisau’s determination, Pastor Samoli requested support from Rehema Ministries, which was already assisting other children in primary and secondary schools in the area. Bisau enrolled with Rehema’s support and successfully completed his training, passing the state exam to become a qualified primary school teacher.

Rehema Ministries is overjoyed to see how the Lord has transformed Bisau’s life. He can now be employed as a teacher in a church-run primary school in Bunia and will be able to care for himself and support some of his surviving siblings. 

Safi: Celebrating achievement in agriculture studies

On Tuesday August 17, 2021, around 5 am, militiamen invaded Itendey, a village situated at about 50 km north of Bunia. Itendey village has an Emmanuel Church mission station mostly known for its hospital that provides quality and affordable health care in the region. The Itendey population, which had already been alerted to the plan of the militiamen, emptied the village before the arrival of the men who set fire to the hospital operating room, the paediatric building, the men’s medicine building, the missionaries houses, and went on burning the village and the shopping centre and killed innocent civilians.

This event caused a massive displacement of the Itendey population towards nearby towns and Bunia city. Safi, an Emmanuel Church pastor’s daughter, and the whole family were among those who fled to Bunia. After the attack her father spent two days in the forest while her mother and a small group of displaced had to return to a village near Itendey to grow crops in gardens to sustain the family with food. In such a situation, her parents were unable to afford the necessary school fees for Safi and her siblings’ education.

Rehema Ministry came to know Safi through Pastor Samoli Maga, a dedicated pastor of a local church in Bunia and the headmaster of the secondary school where Safi enrolled for agricultural studies but was forced to quit because of difficulty in paying her school fees. Pastor Samoli who had witnessed Safi’s commitment, reached out to us, appealing for support to help Safi pursue and complete her agricultural studies in that vocational secondary school. Samoli’s request came when Rehema Ministry had already asserted the approach of empowering destitute children in the terminal stage of their secondary vocational studies, a way to open for them opportunities for possible self-reliance. 

Safi has shown immense determination and a strong desire to succeed in the agriculture programme known as a complex programme and traditionally attractive mostly to male students. She worked very hard and was among the 15 lucky children who were announced in July 2023 by the national examination board to have succeeded in the state exams and obtained their state diploma. 

Today, we are celebrating Safi’s outstanding achievement as she proudly holds a state diploma in agriculture. Her success is not only a testament about her hard work and determination but also a testimony to the unwavering psychological support from trauma. Safi’s accomplishment is particularly significant as she is among the rarity of females pursuing an agricultural study, since the agricultural studies is seen to be a study only men can go for. Safi has broken barriers and stereotypes along the way.

Equipped with newfound knowledge, Safi has honed her skills in cultivating various crops such as cassava, spinach, eggplants and beans. She has not only learned to sustainably grow these crops but has also established a source of income by selling them in the market and also advises the community on agriculture skills. The proceeds from her agricultural activities have been contributing to sustain her and provide enough food for the family.

Safi’s dream extends beyond obtaining a state diploma. She aspires to continue her education and pursue a degree at the university level, specifically in the field of agriculture or medical studies. This passion for agriculture reflects her deep-rooted desire to make a positive impact on her community and contribute to the development of sustainable farming practices badly needed during this time of crisis.

While we applaud Safi’s remarkable achievement, we must also accept the challenges her family continues to face. The presence of the militia in Itendey, particularly in their home, has created a precarious situation for them. We kindly request your prayers for Safi’s family and several other displaced, that they may find safety, peace, and a way to educate their other children during this difficult time. 

Sengi: From the street to the podium

This is the remarkable journey of Sengi Dieu Aimer, a young survivor who has overcome immense challenges and is now striving to build a better future for himself and his community.

Sengi Dieu Aimer hails from Tchabi, a village affected by the tragic attack on June 2, 2021. Born on January 25, 2004, he is the sixth son of Sengi and Regina, and his life took an unexpected turn when the ADF rebels group unleashed violence upon his village. Fearing for his life, Sengi embarked on a treacherous journey to Bunia, seeking refuge and a chance to escape the horrors he had witnessed. Arriving in Bunia on foot, Sengi found solace in a church in a neighbourhood of the city. With no acquaintances or family members by his side, the church became his sanctuary. For two years, Sengi called the church his home, living amidst uncertainty about the fate of his parents and siblings who were separated during the Tchabi attack. 

To contribute to the community that had embraced him, Sengi began assisting with church duties, particularly finding a passion in music. Driven by his natural talent and determination, Sengi quickly mastered musical instruments such as the guitar and synthesizer. He composed numerous Christian songs, using his music as a medium to advocate for peace in Ituri. His compositions resonated deeply, urging political and military authorities to work towards lasting peace in the region. Sengi's days were spent seeking sustenance among the compassionate Christians while finding solace within the walls of the church at night.

Despite the immense challenges he faced, Sengi's unwavering courage, discipline, and politeness propelled him to pursue education, which he had to abandon in Tchabi. Recognizing his potential, the pastor of his church reached out to Rehema for assistance. With Rehema's support, Sengi's snack fees, internships, and soon his state exam fees were taken care of. Sengi, a finalist at the Tchabi Institute, a school relocated from Tchabi to Bunia, now had the opportunity to continue his studies.

Sengi's contributions to the church community have been invaluable. He not only installs musical instruments but also composes hymns and leads worship with utmost dedication. Additionally, he actively engages in Diakonia service, selflessly serving those in need.

We are delighted to share that after two years of separation, Sengi was joyfully reunited with his parents. However, their financial situation remains dire, and they are unable to support their children's needs. As Sengi prepares to take his state exam at the end of June, let us join together in prayer, wishing him success and the opportunity to become self-reliant. Together let us keep Sengi and his family in our thoughts and prayers. Together, let us continue to empower individuals with harsh conditions, who embody the spirit of perseverance and hope.

Ideas for the Future

There are two main areas they would like to develop:

1) George writes, “We think to increase the number of students in programme to 100 at least. This means we would wish to add 20 more students. More and more we think that some of the children would be directed to learn practical skills so as to meet their needs in record time.”

2) As much as possible, Rehema Ministry envision to continue providing education support to vulnerable children and empowering them to care for their needs and became a source of blessing to their relatives and community. They are keen to partner with a Christian vocational school which provides the following vocational training to help people get practical skills to respond to the work demands around. They provide:
- 3 month sewing courses followed by sewing kits
- 3 month automotive mechanics training
- 3 month driving school
- 3 month catering courses for men and women
- 3 month decorating training programmes

These programmes are designed for both boys and girls, youth and adults, to quickly acquire some skills that can help them work and afford living expenses.

Current Issues and Challenges

The pressure of many needy children with whom they have a relationship. 

The current instability of the Ituri region makes life very difficult. People are living with trauma and in constant fear. 

Teachers and schools are under real pressure as class sizes increase and many children have little capacity for learning. The standard of education and the facilities are very poor and not improving as there is little government investment. 

Prayer and Praise Points

1) For the situation in the eastern DR Congo. It is almost an unliveable situation, and the levels of poverty and violence are unbelievable. 

2) Restoration of peace would be the lasting solution to help those whose future is very much unable to be imagined or planned for.  

3) The children will be protected from the pressures of living there and emerge with resilience and with an education that will help them thrive despite the circumstances. 

4) That George’s team will stay involved in the programme to help monitor and mentor the children. Currently all the same people are involved but there is pressure on them from parents and from schools. 

Comments

We should continue with this and even increase it if possible. However, after the visit of the team in August a full review will be carried out. It will be good to have time with George to go through the programme in detail. We will explore the vocational training option with him as well. 

As you can see from the report and stories, there is potential to expand this, particularly for older children like those in the stories.