About Our Work
Orphanage | University | Medical Center | Entrepreneurship Center | Nutritional Center | Sports Academy | & More
Gemena, the capital of Sud Ubangi Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, faces challenges like inadequate infrastructure and limited economic opportunities. Despite these hurdles, the area is rich in potential and local ingenuity. We aim to collaborate with local leaders to support their efforts in overcoming poverty and transforming lives, helping them contribute to community development.
Through our work, we identify and support local leaders who are driving positive change in Congo. Our active commitment involves providing them with the essential resources to turn their vision of an improved quality of life and a prospering community into reality.
Restoring Well-Being in Vulnerable Young Lives
Serving Those Furthest from Opportunity
Children's well-being directly impacts their communities' social, economic, and cultural health. As they grow, they shape a better future, with their success closely tied to their communities' progress.
Here are the programs we are currently supporting in Congo that are restoring the well-being of vulnerable young lives.
Gemena Football Academy
Challenge: In Gemena, with an estimated population of over one million residents and limited infrastructure, there are few extracurricular activities. Most children finish school early and are often left unsupervised, leading to increased drug abuse, gang activity, and promiscuity.
Solution: The sports program, led by Coach Song, promotes education and character development through structured football (soccer) training and activities in a community with limited extracurricular options.
Impact: The sports program provides a positive and healthy alternative for over 200 youth, offering weekly training sessions, monthly games, and tournaments to foster personal growth.
Sabuli Children Center
Challenge: Too many children are orphaned in a vicious cycle of poverty due to a history of imperialism, violence, and oppression; extremely low access to medical care; and limited economic mobility. The Sabuli’s Children Center exists to serve children most vulnerable to this reality.
Solution: The Sanguma Foundation runs an orphanage that serves vulnerable children by providing shelter, loving care, nourishment, education, and development experiences to prepare them for future opportunities.
Impact: Through the orphanage, the lives of over 100 children have been filled with hope and love. They have the opportunity to rewrite their story and live a transformed life more equipped to reach their full potential.
Mama Monique Foundation
Challenge: Congo faces a severe malnutrition crisis, with over 3 million children under five suffering from acute malnutrition. The ongoing conflict, economic instability, and displacement have exacerbated food insecurity, leaving many families without access to adequate nutrition. Poor infrastructure and limited healthcare services further complicate efforts to address the issue.
Solution: The nutritional center, led by Mama Benie, aims to eradicate malnutrition and educate caregivers to break the cycle of poverty and neglect. It provides daytime care, a food program, social assistance, and educational training to improve the well-being of vulnerable children.
Impact: The nutritional center serves 150-200 children through feeding programs and offers education and training to community members on effective methods to combat malnutrition.
Supporting Sustainable Community Development
Holistic and Sustainable Community Transformation
Our partnership with The Sanguma Foundation has enabled us to collaborate on various initiatives. Since 2020, we have reached and impacted the lives of more than 15,000 families and individuals in Gemena. Here are the programs currently supported through the Sanguma Foundation.
Gemena Community Center
Challenge: Globally, according to the World Bank, 700 million people live below the poverty line - surviving on less than $2.15 a day. In Africa as a whole, 4 in 10 people live in poverty, and in Congo, at least 7 in 10 people live below the poverty line.
Solution: The Entrepreneurship Center, the first of its kind in the region, fosters economic development through multipurpose rooms for events, educational programs, and vocational training in various fields.
Impact: Over 400 community members benefit annually from vocational training and educational courses.
Judy Medical Clinic
Challenge: Congo faces severe healthcare challenges, compounded by inadequate healthcare facilities and limited access to services. Many regions, especially rural areas, suffer from a scarcity of medical infrastructure, insufficient medical supplies, and a shortage of trained healthcare professionals. High costs and long distances to healthcare facilities make it difficult for many Congolese to receive timely and adequate medical care.
Solution: The medical center provides quality medical services to vulnerable children and offers much-needed healthcare to regional community members. The clinic ensures greater access by offering highly subsidized medical care.
Impact: Over 4,000 community members receive essential medical care annually, including maternal care and illness treatment.
Sabuli Growing Garden
Challenge: Congo faces a critical issue with food insecurity and extreme poverty, affecting millions of its citizens. Ongoing conflict, economic instability, and displacement have exacerbated these conditions, leaving many families without access to sufficient food, jobs, housing, and basic services.
Solution: The 120-acre farm provides sustainable nourishment for vulnerable children and employment opportunities for the community.
Impact: Over 500 individuals/families gain employment and access to nutritious food, supporting better livelihoods and food security.
Ubangi Protestant University
Challenge: Higher education in the Democratic Republic of Congo faces significant challenges, especially in rural regions. Inadequate facilities, lack of electricity, and a shortage of qualified teachers hinder the quality of education. Access to higher education is extremely limited due to high tuition fees and insufficient financial aid.
Solution: The Ubangi Protestant University is a nationally accredited university in Gemena, the first of its kind in the region, and prepares students to be effective leaders with a global perspective, offering studies in agriculture, economics, law, medical biology, and theology.
Impact: 500 students receive a high-quality education, with opportunities to engage with national and international professors and attend classes worldwide.
Stories of Hope & Opportunity
