Praying for Peace

Violence escalating in Goma as M23 Rebels advance.

Decades of a humanitarian crisis reaching a tipping point.

Dear Art of Courage Family,

I hope that you are finding peace and love in your corner of the world as we witness difficult humanitarian conflicts worldwide.

Sadly, the update that I have for you is difficult. The current situation in Goma has escalated to critical levels. Over the past couple of weeks, we have been on standby ready to evacuate the children if necessary. Our first priority is always the safety of the children at the Tchukudu Kids Home, and the students at the Jonathan Holiday School. 

 You may not be aware that the crisis in Goma is reaching historic volatility as this news doesn’t typically make the headlines. The reality is that the city of Goma is facing a serious threat of violence from the M23 rebels. The rebels have detonated bombs in Goma and blocked all roads leading into the city, causing disruptions to the food supply. Additionally, there is a significant influx of people fleeing to Goma for safe haven from nearby towns and villages which put further demands for food and refuge. Despite our readiness to evacuate, and the access to the safe location of Idjwi Island, which is owned by the projects, for now the community is sheltering in place. The critical decision of whether it is better to shelter in place or risk the travel and vulnerability that is the potential on route is a balance that we entrust to the leaders of the community on the ground in Goma.  And we wait.  And we pray.

 We would not have the opportunity to provide what safety we can without your continued support and dedication to the Art of Courage. At this time, we want to give you extra thanks and gratitude for the support so that we can keep hundreds of children and women safe. 

 As we navigate this challenging time, we ask for your thoughts and prayers for the safety of the children and staff in Goma. We will continue to keep you updated on any developments and our plans moving forward.

 Thank you for being a part of the Art of Courage family.

Warm Regards,

Heather Haynes,

Founder, The Art of Courage

Help us continue to support during this critical time!  Please go to our donate page and choose the way you would like to help.

Extra funds raised during this time will help with potential evacuation costs, purchasing food at hugely inflated costs, emergency aid to those seeking refuge at our centre.