Kaziba Orphanage (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
TFI’s work in the DRC began in January of this year when we agreed to assist one of our Board members, Jilma Meneses, to bring the Kaziba Orphanage into our programmatic work. She had previously supported the orphanage for 20 years through her own nonprofit organization, and we are honored that she has trusted us with its care going forward. Pictured (above) is the nursery at Kaziba, where some of the older children are helping to feed the babies.
Kaziba houses anywhere from 40 to 60 children, most under the age of six or seven, who come from families affected by violence and poverty in the DRC. The orphanage provides them with food, medical care, and a safe place to live until they can either be adopted into new families or by an existing family member who may be able to give them a more secure home. TFI looks forward to supporting these vulnerable children and hopefully providing them with more tools to thrive as they grow, such as expanding their access to education, possibly at a boarding school near where they presently live.
The Priyanka Singh Dormitory for Girls
at Shanti Bhavan (India)
Shanti Bhavan is a boarding school in southern India which provides children who have come from generational poverty with a safe living and learning environment and the skills they need to succeed as they grow into adulthood. The school starts with children as young as four and continues with support and education until many are accepted at colleges or universities and beyond.
TFI started a partnership with Shanti Bhavan late last year with plans to renovate their girls’ dormitory building in honor of one of our Children’s Fund sponsored students, Priyanka Singh (pictured above), who was found dead in her home in early 2020. In Priyanka’s memory, and through the kindness of Board member Diane Brandenburg, we will provide these girls with something Priyanka herself never had: a safe and comfortable place to pursue their educations and dreams. We know these girls will go on to excel in their chosen careers and bring about positive change within their families and communities.
The Priyanka Singh Dormitory for Girls is scheduled to open in the fall of 2021 for some 80 students who will remain in this home away from home as they grow and look forward to a more promising future, something seldom afforded to the poor in India, particularly girls. Pictured (above) is Shanti Bhavan’s campus.
We look forward to continuing to build our relationships with these two great programs in 2021 and beyond. Thanks to two of our Board members for their leadership in making our support of these projects possible.
If you would like to make a donation to help us with one or both of these ongoing projects, please do so by visiting our donate page below, or simply contact us to see how you might get more involved in the work we are doing. Thank you so much.