A New School Year in Congo: Serving Where Parents Cannot

Fall has arrived, and with it the familiar routines of school life. In the United States, children are settling into earlier bedtimes and nightly homework, while parents are busy checking assignments and buying supplies to help their kids succeed. We all want the best for our children and often work just as hard outside the classroom as they do inside it—sometimes even purchasing more than what is truly necessary, simply because we can.

In Congo, parents share that same deep desire to see their children thrive. Yet in places like Central Kasai Province, the challenges are far greater. Until this year, children’s education was neither free nor guaranteed. Families had to pay school fees of about $10 per month per child—a staggering burden when many parents earn as little as $50 per month, if they can find work at all.

This school year also marks the first since peace returned after the devastating violence in Kasai. For families, it is both a season of hope and of continued struggle. While school fees may have been eliminated, the responsibility for basic school supplies still falls to parents who often cannot afford them.

Stepping In to Help

This year, Congo Helping Hands has come alongside families to help fill that gap. Working with local partners in Kwango, we identified 12 schools in the poorest areas and provided students with essential supplies like notebooks and pens. The joy was immediate and heartfelt. In a video message, children could be heard saying, “Thank you Mr. Jeff, thank you Mr. Woody, thank you Mr. Jim.”

Their gratitude was a powerful reminder of Jesus’ words in Luke 17:9–10. In that passage, He reminds His followers that when we have done what is commanded, we should say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.” For me, those children’s thanks were not just for a gift of supplies, but a confirmation that I was living out what Christ has called me to do: to serve humbly in His name.

How You Can Join Us

Parents in Congo, like parents everywhere, long to give their children every opportunity. But when they cannot provide, someone must step in. This year, Congo Helping Hands is honored to stand in that gap—but we cannot do it alone.

Will you help us place notebooks and pens into the hands of children eager to learn? Your gift makes the difference between a child showing up to class ready to succeed or falling behind simply because they lack the basics.

Please consider making a donation today to support children in need of school supplies in Congo. Together, we can help parents carry the load and give children the tools they need for a brighter future.