Remembering the Orphans and Widows

By Tanya Morrison


Tanya Morrison is part of a team that is building a dream in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They have already purchased land for Elikia Village with the vision to provide homes and a future for orphans. But it wasn’t that long ago that she closed the previous chapter on her life and began taking steps towards a new frontier.




I still remember the morning I packed up my laundry basket and literally closed the door on the previous chapter of my life. I was starting a new chapter, which commenced with a month of couch surfing at different friends’ houses. I specifically remember that morning, not just because of the change it brought, but because of the news I had heard. As I was driving away from my old place to my job, my friend called me on my cell phone. In a little over a month we were to go to the Congo together to help the orphans and widows. On the other end of the phone my friend was congratulating me on this move and assuring me of God’s plan in any of my hesitations. She also excitedly told me to look at the Vancouver Sun (our local newspaper) from the day before; there was an article about orphans in the Congo! I was intrigued and found a copy as soon as I could. My heart was pounding a little faster and something rose up within me as I read. The title of the article was: “Congo Witch Hunts Target Kids.” I already knew there were many orphans in the Congo due to war and AIDS but this article presented another factor of orphans in the Congo—accusations of sorcery.


The subheading of the article read, “The majority of homeless children in Kinshasa have been accused of sorcery and were abandoned by relatives.” As I continued to read what popped out at me were statements like: “On a continent where belief in black magic and evil spirits is common, witch hunts are nothing new, usually targeting older, unmarried women. But in the Democratic Republic of Congo, there’s a new twist to this ancient inquisition. Children now account for the majority of allegations involving witchcraft and sorcery, making it the No.1 cause of homelessness among youths.” And “(O)f the estimated 25,000 children living on the streets of the capital, Kinshasa, more than 60 per cent have been thrown out of their homes by relatives accusing them of witchcraft, said child welfare advocates.”


“When relatives are unable or unwilling to cope with an additional mouth to feed, they may look for ways to get rid of the child. In Africa, kicking out a family member, even a distant relative, is considered shameful, but allegations of witchcraft provide a convenient and hard-to-disprove justification.” The article goes on to talk about false prophets doing exorcisms on these children and that “ … forced confessions leave many children confused and guilt-ridde.” These statements got my blood boiling as I thought of innocent and confused children being told lies. I felt at that moment the Spirit of God spoke to my heart that I was to go and proclaim the truth of life and liberty to these ones in Kinshasa.


That was over four months ago now and I am sitting on my bed in our rented house in the heart of Kinshasa. My friend Cammie Clarke and I came to the Congo after attending an amazing conference in Uganda. The conference was about building children’s villages—based on their model at Watoto (famous for the Watoto Children’s Choir). We gleaned many powerful examples from their 12 years of experience. Our vision expanded and the very thing that we were going to the Congo for was broadened in our hearts.




The concept of a children’s village is not new, it is an alternative to the traditional means of a large institutional orphanage with hundreds of kids to a few workers. A children’s village is a cluster of homes each housing 6-8 orphans with a mother (or widow). As the homes are filled, the idea of a village includes providing water and electricity to the area as well as developing a school and medical center for the children and those in the surrounding community. It is a holistic approach of providing for not only orphans and widows but the needs of an entire community that may not have the means to develop themselves.


Cammie and I have come to Kinshasa as missionary consultants with Good News International (in Canada) to partner with Studios Sango Malamu in Kinshasa. Both of these non-profit organizations were founded by Jim Sawatsky, a long-term Christian and Missionary Alliance missionary. The Studio’s mission statement is to present Jesus Christ in the media. Encompassed in that is also social justice in the community, and that’s where the vision for orphans and widows comes into play.


Our primary goal at present is to study the language intensely: French as well as the local dialect of Lingala. In the meantime, working together with SSM’s project manager, we have purchased land for our future village. That story in itself is a miracle. The land was originally priced at US$50,000, but when the chief heard what we wanted the land for he dropped the price to only US$4,000 US! Praise God, our Jehovah Jirah!



This is the land purchased for the future Elikia (meaning HOPE) Children’s Village.


At the beginning of February 2007 Cammie will return to Canada to fundraise and let people know about this project. I will be continuing on here with my language study. During our time here, we have also connected with a wonderful Christian Congolese woman named Georgette who is running an orphanage out of her home for 54 children. They just keep coming to her doorstep and God enables her to bring them in, even though they only have enough for one meal a day. They still have such joy and they love to pray. We have been developing a wonderful relationship with her and the children and are looking forward to the possibility of partnering in the future to help the orphans in Kinshasa and beyond.


Our mission statement for this work is: “Building homes of hope; providing a future for orphans and widows in the Congo.” It is our desire to restore forgotten lives and awaken dreams in these children and to provide for widows who cannot provide for themselves. Our mission is founded on the scriptures, Jeremiah 29:11 and Isaiah 61:1-4. So many places in Scripture refer to looking after the orphans and widows, the orphans and widows. We believe this is very dear to the Father’s heart.


Part of the Watoto village vision was providing the means for children to dream about what they wanted to do with their lives and the ability to go and do that. They don’t kick children out once they reach the age of 18, but continue to help them in the process of further education or finding jobs. We see this responsibility in our vision as well.


We are definitely in the beginning stages of a God-sized dream and we know that it will only be possible as He touches hearts with the same vision. In the future, we see a need for work teams to come and be a part of building the homes. There will be a need for installing a water system and landscaping … the list goes on.


But, the most important need is bringing the Father’s love to the forgotten ones in the Congo. There are thousands of children and orphans who are alone, but the Father knows their names and sees their tears. We believe He has answered their cries and we are willing to be His hands and feet for the ones He longs to reach. While the challenge ahead may be daunting, I know that my God reigns and He absolutely adores these little ones. As He breaks our hearts with what breaks His heart, we trust that together we can reach lives one by one. We welcome anyone whose heart is touched in this way to come alongside in whatever way you can as we expand His Kingdom.


For more information about Elikia Village, go to www.elikiavillage.com.



Taking Action:

What is stirring in your heart? What can you do?


If your heart has been moved to be do something for orphans and widows in the DRC, please contact us with your thoughts and ideas. We are hoping to make this a globalgirl network project.



About Tanya:
Tanya Morrison is a Canadian who has also lived and worked in Japan. She’s currently working on start an orphan village in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Check out her blog at tanyamorrison.wordpress.com

Photos with this article are courtesy of Tanya Morrison.