What impact can Tearfund support have on the lives of people who have experienced the horrors of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)? The story of Ibrahim Kaiko will give you an insight.
With his wife and six frightened young children in tow, Ibrahim Kaiko walked more than 43 miles to flee the rebel forces that attacked his village.
Although their escape was successful, life as a displaced family was uncompromisingly tough in their new location.
Ibrahim said, ‘It was so difficult there. I tried to make a little house but we didn’t have much in the way of materials, only sticks and mud.’
Finding food was hard and even though Ibrahim, 42, tried to get casual work to support his family he couldn’t find enough for them to eat more than once a day.
‘When we fled, my children became very sick,’ he says. ‘They suffered from malnutrition and diarrhoea and I was so worried as I couldn’t afford healthcare as well as food.’
Looted
Ibrahim made the decision to return to his home village. They arrived to find their home burned down, their household goods looted and animals eating their crops.
‘We were devastated but we are slowly starting to use our fields again thanks to Tearfund,’ says Ibrahim.
Tearfund has given Ibrahim crop and vegetable seeds and he says his family are now producing enough to eat three times per day.
In fact, he says he’s producing larger yields now than he did before the conflict began and that his family is eating a more diverse diet.
Such big yields enable him to sell his surplus at market and then if his children get sick he doesn’t have to worry about paying the medical bills.
His next project, he says, is investing some of his earnings in materials to re-roof his house: ‘ It will be hard work but I really believe it is possible.’
What you can do
Ibrahim asks that people pray for peace to remain in his community: ‘If we have peace we can continue and get on with our lives, and I can improve my house for my family’s future.’
Please support Tearfund’s emergency appeal for the conflict-affected people of DRC.
Your donations will enable us to continue projects that are rebuilding lives, giving people practical aid and training to overcome hardship and poverty. In the process, we’re helping people unlock their potential, giving them dignity and hope.
By donating, you’ll not only enable us to provide basic everyday household items for displaced families, but also to invest in their future by helping them restart livelihoods, giving them new skills and improving their access to water and sanitation.
Your support will enable us to provide medical care and trauma therapy to women who have been raped.
Training will also mean that members of the local church will be able to bring immediate and tangible support to their communities.