NOVEMBER 2025 UPDATE
We've prioritized our focus to support the orphans of Centre Mabadiliko, and with the most recent donations we received through this page, we've been able to initiate a sustainable food project for the kids at this orphanage.
On November 16, 2025, we purchased 200 chicks for $250, which will aim to give the kids a sustainable source of food security (through the production of eggs) and future income (selling chickens to generate money for paying school fees and such).
With the remaining $100, we also bought the materials needed to build their new chicken coop, finished setting up the small house where the chicks will live, and brought out a local vet to come out to help prepare the chicks, ensure they were healthy, and properly set up their shelter.
Through our focus supporting this orphanage, we also met Providence, who is one of the girls currently battling severe malnutrition at this orphanage. You'd never be able to guess her age because she literally looks like she's 5 years old, but in a couple of months, she'll actually be 12. When Estimic told me that as I was waving to her through WhatsApp the other day, my heart sank.
In about 3 months time, we expect the chicks that we bought (and that are now at this orphanage) to start producing their eggs and to create a sustainable food source for these kids, including Providence.
But in the interim, we don't know if Providence will make it, and so to help bridge this gap and give her a chance at life, we received the recommended food breakdown by a local nutritionist as to what might support her getting to a better state of health.
The first step was to get her a medical exam and an initial set of medicine. Estimic and I covered those costs together, and that exam occurred today (November 21, 2025).
The second step is to see if we can get her the below food for the next 3 months. Below is the 3-month budget for Providence in which we are now fundraising:
3-Month Budget for Providence
Peanut Butter: $80 ($40/Carton; 120 Pieces/Carton)
Porridge: $180 ($60/Unit)
Milk: $36 ($6/1Kg)
Fish: $180 ($2/Day)
Fruits: $90 ($1/Day)
Sugar: $52 ($0.58/Day)
Vegetables: $45 ($0.50/Day)
Flour: $22 ($0.24/Day)
Total: $685
This support isn’t just financial — it’s transformational. These funds are helping to create lasting change. And perhaps it's only fitting that "mabadiliko" does actually mean change.
OCTOBER 2025 UPDATE
We continue to support the victims of the ongoing war in the eastern parts of the DR Congo.
Food, medicine, sanitary wipes, shoes...the list goes on.
Most recently on October 11, 2025, funds from this campaign were used to bring 65 orphans (their parents were killed this year by the M23 rebels) who are currently connected with an orphanage called Centre Mabadiliko in Goma a 2-week supply of food.
And a month before that on September 11, 2025, funds from this campaign were used to buy and bring hundreds of pairs of shoes to an orphanage called Encadrement des Enfants Orphelins et Vulnérables, which has been trying to help hundreds of kids who have lost their parents to the war. These shoes were combined with a bunch of different notebooks, pens, and toothbrushes that were sourced from other generous donors.
Below are some pictures of that event...
As long as this war continues, I'm committed to keeping this fundraiser going. And my beautiful friends on the ground are prepared to keep risking their lives to make this positive impact in their communities.
With your support, we CAN do more.
Below is a new budget breakdown of how your donations can help and what we'd like to bring to this and other orphanages as we move forward:
So, let's go. These kids deserve to know that people in this world care about them, even if the mass media isn't talking about them. Thank you for your support, thank you for your love, and thank you for your generosity.
This is hope without borders. And let's keep working towards peace in the Congo!
*****
FEBRUARY 2025 UPDATE
In light of the horrifying and recent developments in Goma, we are temporarily diverting where these funds will be going. I initially created this fundraising campaign to help the people living in Kanyaruchinya Refugee Camp in Goma, which is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. You can see below the highlights of my story and how Estimic and his team beautifully volunteered their time and talents to support this camp using some of these funds raised.
Sadly, due to the advancements of the M23 rebels and their violent overtaking of the city of Goma this past week, Estimic himself, along with the people in his network who have survived so far, are in dire need of survival basics at this time.
And so, until further notice, this is how these funds will be used. Thank you for what you can contribute here...you are literally helping to save lives through your donation.
*****
On July 25, 2024, my life changed. In a really important way. During my travels through the Democratic Republic of the Congo, I was asked by Estimic (my guide who runs Africa Tourism Gate) if I wanted to visit one of the refugee camps in Goma. I honestly wasn’t expecting that, but something inside of me said that I needed to go, and so I said yes.
To bring everyone up to speed and for those who are unaware, Goma is a city in North Kivu, which is one of the provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. For years, war has been occurring in the villages of this province, and over time, a slew of refugee camps have been settled on the outskirts of Goma. And these camps are currently housing the people from those villages. I visited Kanyaruchinya IDP (Internally Displaced Person) Camp, which houses hundreds of Congolese including approximately 400-450 children.
This was the first refugee camp that I have ever visited, and I think I experienced every human emotion one could experience: from the hilarity that ensued after I attempted to operate one of their chukudus, to the heartbreak in seeing just how little these people had, the amazement in seeing how much love and hope these people continue to have despite the conditions in which they are living, to the guilt I felt for having all that I have access to where I live in NYC, to the overwhelm I felt seeing the power of the human spirit.
I’m still trying to reconcile what I experienced.
Flash forward to one of my meditations after getting back home to NYC, an idea came to me as I had a flashback to one of the images I saw at that camp that was a little boy holding a really dirty ball that resembled a soccer ball. I asked myself: what if there was a way for me to get this boy a replacement soccer ball? What if I could get a bunch of soccer balls over to this camp? So, after the meditation, I sent a message to Estimic to see if something like this was possible, and he said absolutely. We had a chat, and after he checked with two of the people who work for him and who have also volunteered at this camp in the past, I received these two lists of items that this camp would very much appreciate. One list is in connection with the recreational activities that I was initially drawn to, and the other list is for additional food needs. And for your awareness, the WFP–World Food Programme–is currently providing the bare minimum support by way of food and water.
And so here I am…managing this fundraiser in support of this camp. This camp moved me. The people moved me. And as humans, they deserve more. You'll see I’m covering the soccer balls and jerseys, and my hope is that with some more contributions from you, we can add opportunity to the beautiful people of this camp. And as we know, it can only take that one opportunity in life to be a game-changer. Can we get to $5K? Let’s try.
And just to let you know how this will work is that any funds received will be sent to Estimic. He will then partner with his two employees to make things happen on their end.
Recreational Activities for Children
The activities would be organized twice a week as the start of the school year is coming soon, and the children will be supervised through soccer, art (drawing, DIY, etc.), and training on nature protection and conservation. The following supplies would be needed to make this happen:
|
Unity |
Designation |
Quantity |
UP |
TP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Team |
Football* |
2 |
10 |
20 |
|
Team |
Soccer Jersey (2 Teams)* |
2 |
150 |
300 |
|
Box |
Pencil |
10 |
5 |
50 |
|
Box |
Pen |
5 |
5 |
25 |
|
Box |
Colored Pencils |
5 |
5 |
25 |
|
Box |
Paper (Ream) |
1 |
6 |
6 |
|
Car |
Transportation (Return Trips from Goma to Camp) |
N/A |
120 |
120 |
|
Roll |
Twine |
2 |
5 |
10 |
|
Paquet |
Notebooks (Box) |
5 |
6 |
30 |
|
Paquet |
Pair of Scissors |
5 |
5 |
25 |
|
MONTHLY PAYMENTS ITEMS |
291 |
|||
|
1-YEAR TOTAL |
3,812 |
*These items would last for approximately 1 year and will be covered by Andrew O’Brien
Food Requests
|
Item |
Cost |
|
Water |
$20 |
|
Bread |
$70 |
|
Firewood |
$25 |
|
Bus Rental (Volunteer Transport to Camp) |
$50 |
|
Transportation to Make Purchases |
$15 |
|
Sugar |
$35 |
|
Soya |
$25 |
|
Accommodation |
$10 |
|
Gloves |
$10 |
|
Unexpected Costs |
$10 |
|
Total Per Visit |
$260 |
And here's a picture I took of Estimic and his team in Goma; Landry and Giselle are the ones who volunteer at this camp whenever they have the funds to do so:
HOW THESE FUNDS HELPED THE REFUGEE CAMP
Event 1: September 24, 2024
The first of the events was held on September 24, 2024 for the children of this refugee camp. The event was centered around conservation education in connection with World Gorilla Day on September 24, 2024. I'm not able to post videos here unless I upload a YouTube, but here's a link to my public post on FB for more: https://www.facebook.com/
Event 2: October 11, 2024
On October 11, 2024, Estimic, his team, and a slew of volunteers facilitated all sorts of fun, recreation, and additional food for approximately 200 kids at this refugee camp. Here are some of the pictures! Here's the link to more videos and pictures: https://www.facebook.com/
Event 3: October 25, 2024
On October 25, 2024, 300 kids from this camp benefited from additional food support. Here's the link to the videos and pictures: https://www.facebook.com/
Event 4: November 3,2024
On November 3, 2024, kids from this camp got to participate in an arts and crafts event. Here's the link to the videos and pictures: https://www.facebook.com/
Event 5: November 29,2024
On November 29, 2024, the refugees from this camp received more food and got to play more soccer! Here's the link to the videos and pictures: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EzKDw7FWK/...
Event 6: December 6,2024
On December 6, 2024, the refugees from this camp received some more education! Here's the link to the videos and pictures: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BwXnhpiKA/...
Event 7: December 23,2024
On December 23, 2024, people living in this camp received some Christmas cheer! Here's the link to the videos and pictures: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HFhUk3b3v/...
