Orphanages Update

$4,700 of $15,000 has been raised!  Thank you soooo much!

At the newly found orphanage, JLN, 5 children have passed away from dysentery and 60 children remain between 0 and 17 years old.  Many children remain ill and they have almost no food and no medicine.  The local physician we have connected with through a handful of caring individuals is helping the sick children.  We sent $500 of the money that has been raised to the physician to purchase much needed antibiotics and food - that is $6.66 per child.

At the original orphanage, Elikia, all 18 children are now well and back at the orphanage and 4 new children have arrived.  The NGO founders will be headed there in just a few days and will stay there for at least 6 weeks to implement the solutions we are helping to provide them.  One of the founders is a doctor, so that will also help immensely.

The immediate and short-term water solutions are purchased and will be shipped to Kinshasa as soon as the orders arrive.

ABI has been providing humanitarian aid to developing nations around the world for 14 years.  We are highly familiar with best practices in working in areas such as DRC.  We will in no way provide $15,000 in cash to the orphanage.  The only amounts that will be provided as cash will be for items that must be purchased locally such as medicines, beds, and food - and at that, it will be provided in small installments with requirements of pictures of receipts and of the tangible goods at the orphanage.  We also continue to watch to ensure that the items remain at the orphanage over time.  We make it very clear that any misuse of support will not be tolerated.  I have personally met the NGO founders, spent many hours with them, and numerous more on phone calls and feel they honestly care for the children and their well-being.

ABI is a 501(c)3 is audited annually.  We remain in compliance will all Federal nonprofit regulations.  Additionally, Elikia is registered nationally and locally in DRC.  We do not know the status of JLN.  Regardless of registration or not, we treat donations the same way - start with small test amounts and always require verification while dividing it up among multiple responsible individuals.  We will also be sending an ABI Congolese staff member to the orphanage with supplies and to ensure proper use of donations.

Your help is needed to fund these solutions.  Please donate if you can and please share!