The Lobiko Initiative

Every day, children come to our partner program, Mama Monique Foundation, for something many families in the region struggle to provide: enough food. The center feeds up to 200 children and works with caregivers to help them understand and prevent malnutrition. This is a few seconds from an ordinary day there. A volunteer handing a child a meal. Learn more about Mama Monique Foundation and our other partner programs at lobiko.org.

They want to be like the older boys. ⚽💛 At the Sabuli Children’s Center, some of the youngest kids are already practicing their soccer skills, inspired by the older boys they look up to. Through our partnership with the Gemena Football Academy, those older players have a place to train, grow, and be part of a team. Looks like the next generation is already getting ready. ⚽ Learn more: lobiko.org/our-work

Just a few months after opening, the new maternity clinic is already filled with mothers, babies, nurses, and a lot of joy. This week, expectant mothers filled the clinic for vaccinations and checkups. It was an encouraging glimpse of what greater access to maternal care is already making possible. One mother shared that she had previously lost her first baby during a difficult delivery in her village. At the new clinic, she safely delivered a healthy baby girl. Today, both mother and daughter are thriving. A building is only the beginning. What matters is what happens inside it: safer care, healthier mothers and babies, and a community with greater access to the support it needs.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to Mount Nyiragongo, an active volcano with the world's largest permanent lava lake. Its lava is unusually fluid, which means it can move incredibly fast. During a 2002 eruption, some lava flows reached speeds of up to 40 mph (60 km/h). We spend a lot of time sharing stories from the communities where Lobiko works. Every now and then, we'll also share something that makes the DRC such a fascinating place, from its wildlife and landscapes to its rich cultures and history.

Arriving at Sabuli Children Center after church on Sunday. ❤️ The moment the children see their caregivers, they come running to say hello. It’s one of those simple moments that captures so much of what makes the community at Sabuli Children Center special.

It's easy to miss how much happens before breakfast. Someone stocked the shelves. Someone lit the stove. Someone stirred the porridge. Someone made sure every child had a place to sit. Every morning, the team at Mama Monique Foundation prepares breakfast for hundreds of vulnerable children before school. It's a daily commitment that continues despite challenges like unreliable electricity and limited resources. The work is quiet, consistent, and deeply important.

School is out, and summer holidays are underway at the SCC children’s home. A new radio and plenty of Congolese dance music have quickly become part of the daily routine. Singing and dancing are a big part of life at SCC. And when the music comes on, the room changes. This is one of those simple, everyday moments that makes a place feel like home.

The school day starts with a song. Each morning, this kindergarten teacher gathers her students to sing and dance before class begins. Some of these children are from Sabuli Children's Center, our program partner. Many others are neighbors in the surrounding community. For a few minutes before class, the schoolyard fills with music, movement, and laughter.

Just two months after opening, the maternity ward is already full of life. One mother shared that she lost her first baby during a difficult delivery in her village. Here, she safely delivered a healthy baby girl, and today both mother and daughter are thriving. In May alone, 19 babies were delivered safely in the new maternity ward. It's encouraging to see families already receiving the care this clinic was built to provide. 📍Judy Medical Clinic, DR Congo

Every day, these rooms are filled with songs, laughter, and children who know they're loved. ❤️ This is what an afternoon at Sabuli Children's Center sounds like. 📍DR Congo