See how your support helps children heal
May 2018 update
It’s hard to even begin to imagine seeing your mum and dad killed in front of you. That’s how Musimbwa*, 12, lost his parents. Like many children fleeing the violence in the Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, he was left homeless, terrified and deeply traumatised.
But thanks to you, Musimbwa is beginning to heal from everything he’s been through.
Click through these photos to see how child friendly spaces are helping children like Musimbwa, thanks to your support.
A place to be himself
The child friendly space gives Musimbwa a place where he can feel safe, get psychological support and play football with his friends.
“We meet on an open ground. We are happy to have our own facility.”
– Musimbwa, 12.
Since 2016, the conflict in the Kasai region of has affected millions of children, forcing them out of their homes and into unimaginable danger. A situation no one – especially a child – should ever have to face.
We heard sounds of guns. My father grabbed me by the hand and started running. My mother and sister ran too. My parents were shot and that was the last time I saw them.
- Musimbwa, 12
Musimbwa now goes to a child friendly space – a place where he can feel safe, get psychological support and make friends. As well as learning to read and write there, he also plays football which is helping him find joy again.
These are simple things that all children, no matter where in the world they live, should be able to do.
Musimbwa and his sister now live with their grandparents. Life is still incredibly hard, and he’ll never be able to forget the awful things he’s been through, but the child friendly space is helping to give him the care and support he needs to begin his recovery.
Thank you for helping to give children like Musimbwa, the chance to be children again.
* Musimbwa’s name’s been changed to protect his identity
