The Story of Toyota B Community

The aftermath of the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo crushed the local economy and displaced millions of people. A new university, combined with the success of the mining company, brought a growing number of people to the Toyota area and with this has come an increase in traffic, escalating the risk of accidents when the children cross the busy roads, and a spike in problems with alcohol abuse.

A road cuts through Toyota that heads straight out to the mining hills, where many youths and Primary Caregivers are drawn into illegal and dangerous work. Toyota sprawls from the edge of Likasi town, attracting the most desperate with strongholds of alcohol abuse, drugs and prostitution. COVID has further intensified the desperate situation of people living in this place and there have been many struggles with poor nutrition because of the restrictions everywhere.

70 Children currently supported

6 Care Workers Coordinated by mama maria

Basic Services Started in 2022 

22 KM from the Likasi Local Office

In 2006, the number of orphaned children in Toyota Community was enough to move a group of men and women in the community to begin caring for the vulnerable. Through the partnership between Hands at Work and the newly created Tujenge Community Based Organisation (CBO), the local Hands at Work team in Likasi and the Care Workers worked together to identify those most in need. 

Reaching out to the local churches for support, the volunteer Care Workers began walking a long road to support the most vulnerable. Initially, the Tujenge CBO began by caring for and serving 50 of the most vulnerable children, supporting them with the three essential services of a hot, nutritious meal daily, education and basic health care. Though there are many challenges and obstacles in Toyota, the Care Workers are committed to their calling and have been able to increase the number of children being cared for. 

The Care Point in Toyota is a safe place where children can come to receive their daily meal, as well as love, care and attention from the Care Workers. Regularly, Care Workers visit the children in their homes, thus building strong relationships of love and trust. This enables the Care Workers to support each child’s physical, emotional and spiritual needs on an individual basis. Additionally, it helps to accurately assess each child’s needs and make a plan for how to best care for them.

Over the years, as the needs within Toyota continued to grow, a second feeding point (Toyota B) was started so that some of the children did not have to walk so far in the sprawling community. The addition of the second feeding point was especially necessary for children like Mike* who, struggling with a life-threatening illness, was often unable to walk the distance to Toyota A. Additionally, the number of vulnerable children, particularly on the Toyota B side, was continuing to rise and extend beyond the reach of the current team of Care Workers.

In 2022, the Care Workers, together with the Likasi team (supported by the Zambia Regional Support Team), decided to split the Toyota CBO into two official CBOs – Toyota A and Toyota B – with their own leadership and team of Care Workers.

Meet Elodie

When nine-year-old Elodie’s mother became ill in 2018, Elodie’s father was unable to sufficiently care and provide for Elodie and her four younger siblings. This resulted in the children becoming very malnourished. Sadly, Elodie’s mother passed away in 2020. She left behind the five children including Elodie’s eight-month-old youngest brother. After his wife passed, Elodie’s father brought the children to live with their grandmother, where their malnourished state only increased. Though their father is still alive, he is unable to take an active role in caring for his children.

Thankfully, a group of men and women in Toyota exists to share the hope and love of Christ towards the most vulnerable, like Elodie. Today these children attend the Care Point, where they are receiving the physical, emotional and spiritual support that they desperately need. With daily nutritious meals and access to the local clinic, they are starting to be healthy and strong. Elodie also enjoys spending time with Care Worker Marie, with whom she feels safe to share her fears and dreams. 

The local Hands at Work team in Likasi currently supports nine Community Based Organisations, which exist to care for the most vulnerable in their communities. The office provides training, networking, and encouragement to those Community Based Organisations like Tujenge.  It also gives administrative support, including helping with funding proposals, monitoring and evaluation, bookkeeping and reporting to donors.  

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