Children like Tuizere and Zakayo are counting on us

Last autumn, you helped to launch a new programme in Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with our partner, Heal Africa, and supported by Irish Aid. A programme that is changing the lives of children and families affected by both poverty and disability.
 

But there are so many more children who need our help to walk, often for the first time in their lives. Children like Tuizere and Zakayo are counting on us. Can we count on you?

Your gift will go straight to Goma, and change the life of a child living with a disability like club foot. We’ll use your gift to help pay for an orthopaedic operation, provide a child with a walking device like crutches and pay for any follow-up care a child needs.

Zakayo is 14 years old. His brother Tuizere is six. They were born with bilateral club foot – club foot in both feet. Not only had they spent their lives coping with a disability, but they also suffered the loss of their mother two years ago. Every day they watched their father struggle to care for them and their five siblings.

Their father Jean is a farmer. But he couldn’t devote the time needed to work his small piece of land, because he had to stay home to care for Zakayo and Tuizere. This meant there was often not enough food to feed the family.

I learned that Zakayo had suffered a lot because of his disability. With club foot, the feet turn inward at the ankle, making walking nearly impossible. Jean told me that it used to take Zakayo two hours to walk to school every day, and he had to use a stick to hold himself up.

And when he did arrive at school, he was often so late that he’d miss out on most of the lessons. As a result, Zakayo was falling further and further behind in his class. Without an education, he wouldn’t be able to find himself a good job, and lift himself out of poverty. The same fate awaited his little brother.

In fact, if both brothers couldn’t get the education they needed, it’s likely that the entire family would’ve fallen even deeper into poverty.

Zakayo and Tuizere’s father truly believed his prayers had been answered when he heard about our programme from our community workers. They brought the family to the local clinic, where doctors assessed them and decided that they needed corrective surgery right away.

Within two days of receiving surgery, Jean told me that he saw his sons walk for the first time in their lives. For him, watching Zakayo and Tuizere stand up and walk out of the hospital, was a miracle – a miracle you made possible.

Jean was so grateful for the generosity of the CBM supporters who helped his sons, that he asked me to pass these words on to you…

I’m in constant touch with our community workers in Goma. Every day I’m hearing about more children with disabilities like club foot, who desperately need surgery. Children that we can help right now.

The last time I saw little Tuizere he was full of excitement, and looking forward to starting school. Zakayo told me that he and his brother dream of studying and becoming tailors, and making their father proud.
 
Now that his sons can walk, Jean told me he’s able to spend more time on his farm, growing more food to feed his children. He’s happy that his sons will be able to get the education they need to find jobs, and make good lives for themselves.You made all this possible!

But please, if you can, I need you to make your New Year’s gift straightaway. Because you can make a difference right now in the life of a child. You can help a child to take their first steps. Please give whatever you can today. Thank you.