A Safe Place for Children in DR Congo
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, hundreds of thousands of children grow up every day surrounded by violence, fear, and uncertainty. Children are traumatized at a young age by what they’ve seen or experienced. Being carefree and childlike is far from guaranteed here. A safe place amidst all the chaos gives children hope and strength: “I forget for a moment everything that happened.”
In 2024, a new war broke out when M23 rebels advanced toward Goma, leaving a trail of extreme violence and destruction. Many people lost their lives. Hundreds of thousands of families and children had to flee again from the refugee camps where they were staying. They fled en masse to Goma. Now, they are returning to their villages. Help a Child is hard at work in this area.
Fear at night, danger during the day
For Daudi from the Democratic Republic of Congo, war is a daily reality. He fled bullets, saw dead bodies along the road, and had to try to survive with his family in a refugee camp. “We heard shots all night long, I lost courage,” he says. Yet, there is hope. In Daudi’s village, there’s a safe haven run by Help a Child. There he plays soccer with friends and can finally be a child again.
What is a safe haven?
Deborah is a counselor at such a safe haven and works in the Help a Child tent. She explains: “Children can be children here in a safe and peaceful environment. We give them the care and attention they need. This way, they build self-confidence, make music together, and participate in educational games. We also help children find their families if they’ve lost them. My dream is for every child in DR Congo to grow up carefree.”
Help a Child tent
Daudi had lost his appetite due to stress and grief. Now he plays again, laughs with his friends, and goes to school: “When we arrived at the Help a Child tent, we forgot what had happened for a while. We play football, cards, even the girls join in. That’s security for me.”
How can you help?
With the Help a Child Disaster Relief Fund, we help children like Daudi in countries like DR Congo facing crisis situations. We work with partners on the ground to provide protection, food, trauma care, and education for children. With your contribution, we can give even more children a safe place—a place where war ends.