About this Project

An electrical fire destroyed a building at an orphanage in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. More than 200 children and adults escaped unharmed, and International Christian Concern (ICC) is committed to helping the owners rebuild. ICC has supported the overcrowded orphanage with emergency supplies over the past two years, including with food, medicine, safe water, clothing, mattresses, and a fish farm.

Compassion Orphanage, created by Dorcas Kiharami and her husband Pastor Immanuel Kiharami, receives rescued children from the frontlines of the war in DR Congo. The main persecutor is the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants operating in Eastern DRC. They target Christian villages, churches, mission hospitals and passengers. The orphanage sits on four small plots of land making it hard to host more children as the conflict intensifies in Congo. Each week more and more children are being found wandering alone or lying in the arms of their dead mothers, when people go to check for survivors.

For now, the support we raise is being used to sustain the existing staff and to provide essential health and educational services to these children in a temporary setting. Longer term, we envision not just rebuilding the dormitory that caught on fire but creating a space that transcends its original purpose. We plan to put our Hope House school inside the building to serve as a hub for education and fellowship, as well as a center that serves the community.

HERE'S OUR LONG-TERM VISION FOR THE ORPHANAGE

• DORMITORY: We plan to rebuild the recently burned dormitories to accommodate the growing number of orphans. The building will house at least 80 children comfortably, in addition to a living room and other communal spaces.

• HOPE HOUSE: We believe in the transformative power of education. With your support, we intend to equip the orphanage with a classroom, learning materials, and qualified teachers who can provide these children with the education they deserve. We plan to build a community room where the children can gather for activities, workshops, and events.

• SPIRITUAL SUPPORT: The pastor and wife who run the orphanage do so much for the local, predominantly Muslim community. We want the community room to be used for outreach and evangelism, Bible classes, and a place to teach and share the gospel.

• CLEAN WATER ACCESS: Clean water is a necessity that should never be compromised. We plan to dig and install a well on the property to ensure that the children have access to safe, clean drinking water.