Building futures in DR Congo

In 2025, Red Box supporters in England and Wales provided vital support to Mill Hill Missionaries serving struggling communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Hear from the Mill Missionaries in a video below…

Mill Hill Missionary, Fr Patrick, wanted to construct a hostel for 30 vulnerable, war-affected children to access secondary education in Mose – one of the most impoverished villages in eastern DRC; lacking electricity, clean water and basic infrastructure.

Fr Patrick shared: ‘In our area, the situation is marked not only by visible insecurity but also by a deeper, silent struggle: poverty, displacement and the absence of basic opportunities. The phenomenon of armed groups, such as the Mobondo, has created fear in many villages. Families are forced to move, children miss school and daily life becomes uncertain.

‘But beyond the violence, there is also another kind of suffering: children growing up without access to education, stability or hope. Many walk long distances to school, others simply stop going. Some are orphans or come from families who cannot provide even one meal a day.

‘This is why the hostel is so important. It is not just a building; it is a response to a crisis. It offers children a safe place to live, study and dream again. Without such support, many of these children risk becoming a lost generation.’

Click on the below arrow to watch Fr Patrick explain how, with your help, missionaries have been able to work alongside the community to build a safe haven for children or continue reading…

Fr Patrick goes on to explain: ‘The region has been scarred by violent conflict between the Bayaka and Bateke ethnic groups, resulting in widespread loss of life and displacement. Many children have been orphaned and families struggle to survive through subsistence farming. Parents often spend entire days in the fields, and children are frequently pulled from school to assist with labour-intensive agricultural work.’

While the local community had already contributed financially and was committed to ensuring the sustainability and safety of the project, the building materials needed were beyond their means. Fr Patrick shared: ‘The goal is to provide a sanctuary where children can focus on their personal development and education, regardless of the hardships they’ve endured.

‘Education is the only way out of the desperate cycle of poverty. The war in the eastern part of DRC and tribal conflicts or fighting are no incentive for young people. Thus, many war-displaced children in our parish fall prey to anyone who can give them food. In Mose village, motor and taxi drivers often use these vulnerable young people, especially the war-displaced girls for sex, drugs and crime. This results in a high rate of prostitution, juvenile delinquency, sexually transmitted diseases and early pregnancies.

‘Today, as Mill Hill Missionary priest in Mose, I am trying to craft a new chapter, not just for myself, but for children orphaned by tribal disputes, displaced by the ravages of war and forgotten by a world often indifferent to their plight. Some have witnessed the heartbreaking loss of both parents to the clashes between the Bateke and the Bayaka. Others come from families within our parish, trapped in a cycle of poverty, without access to education, opportunities or any real choice.

‘Currently, the male children reside in a rented house. While not entirely unbearable, it falls far short of a true home. It lacks the essential space, light and basic sanitation, not to mention the security that children so desperately need. It’s overcrowded, ill-equipped and utterly unsuitable, yet it is all we have until we can offer them what they truly deserve.

‘What we are building isn’t merely a hostel; it is a sanctuary. It’s a place where the Gospel becomes tangible, where love is woven into the very fabric of the bricks, water taps, bunk beds and classroom walls.

‘Our hostels care for children aged 11 to 17, offering them a stable, nurturing environment during their most formative years. Upon completing their studies, particularly those who finish Form Six, some will return to their villages, ready to embark on new lives, while others may seek opportunities in the capital, Kinshasa. In addition to formal schooling, we provide life education and language classes in English and French, equipping them with practical skills and boosting their confidence for the future.

‘Guiding them on this journey is a small but committed team: two cooks, two priests deeply involved in hostel management and the school prefect, who also provides crucial formation. These adults do more than supervise; they live alongside the children, fostering trust, instilling discipline and cultivating a genuine sense of family. Presently, only the two cooks receive a modest monthly allowance, but we are in the process of securing government support to fund five official staff positions. This will allow us to recruit three additional team members, further strengthening our service and safeguarding efforts.

‘This undertaking is not merely a project; it’s a miracle in the making, and I know firsthand what it means to be a child praying for a miracle.

‘Let’s not let this sacred work remain unfinished. Let’s be the shelter they long for. Let’s see love’s undertaking through to its very end. The support from Red Box supporters is not just financial, it is deeply spiritual. It reminds us that we are not alone in this mission. When we receive your help, we see more than a donation; we see faith in action! We see people who choose to share what they have with love. That gives us courage.

‘Your support is already transforming lives. A child who had no bed, now sleeps in dignity; a student who had lost hope, now holds a book again; a young girl who feared for her future, now dares to dream. Behind every wall of this hostel, there is a story: a child who has lost parents, a family that cannot afford school a future that is uncertain.

‘You have already begun something beautiful here. But we ask you: please help us to complete it. You don’t need to build an entire structure – all that is asked is that you lay a single brick of mercy. Your contribution, regardless of its size, whether £5, £50 or £5,000, is profoundly sacred. It brings a child closer to safety, paves the path to success and illuminates the promise of a brighter future. It brings Christ closer to the forgotten.

‘For us as missionaries, your generosity renews our strength. It tells us: continue, do not give up, the Church is with you. The hostel has been built with great sacrifice, but it is not yet finished. We still need beds, water systems, solar energy and basic furnishings to make it fully functional for the children.

‘We are deeply grateful to you and to the supporters who have made this possible. Your encouragement and commitment to our mission here in the DRC mean a great deal to us. When you support this project, you are not just giving money, you are giving a child a future. And one day, these children will not only remember your generosity, they will become the hope of this nation.

‘Thank you once again to you and to Missio UK for your generous support and trust. Your contribution is truly making a difference in the lives of these children.’