Republic of Congo
Debbie Howard lives in Lubumbashi, in the south of the country, near the Zambian border. Approximately 10,000 children live on the streets of Lubumbashi and Debbie and her colleagues work with some of these. The twice weekly programme consists of giving bible teaching, discipleship, teaching on basic literacy skills, nutritional and medical care, help with clothing and other practical needs. Some boys are then placed in rented accommodation and provided with basic necessities but retain responsibility for all their other needs.
To help them generate income they are provided with a shoe cleaning kit and small items to sell. They are visited daily by a team member, attend various Christian meetings and go to school twice a week. When possible the boys are re-housed with family members, placed into apprenticeship programmes or “adopted” by local Christians.
Debbie has also been involved with providing training for churches in children’s and youth work and in implementing child protection standards. “Training Trainers” courses train experienced proven children’s and youth workers to teach others throughout the country.
Debbie and her colleagues visit patients in local hospitals to encourage them from God’s word and to pray for them. They are left with small sachets of sugar, milk, soya and biscuits and on some occasions, help is given towards the cost of medicines and/or treatment.
