14-year old Mwete lives in the community of Toyota within the DRC, one of the least developed countries in the world.
By the age of 12, Mwete had lost both his parents to illnesses. This left Mwete living in a rented home with his elderly grandfather. His grandfather had been injured during the war, leaving him paralysed and unable to walk, but he was a crucial fatherly figure in Mwete’s life. Crisis struck when his grandfather also passed away leaving Mwete full of grief and living alone in the house, until even that was taken from him.
Mama Safi is a volunteer Care Worker. She is part of group of men and woman from the local church, who were mobilised by Hands at Work to care for the most vulnerable. She knows the pain that exists within Toyota because she has experienced it in her own life. As Mwete’s home life became increasingly desperate, she felt a stirring in her heart to bring him into her home.
Mama Safi shares, “We can’t ask anyone else to care for him. He is one of our children. We are the ones that must care.”
Mwete says “She said you don’t have anywhere to go, so you can be part of my family.”
Today, Mwete is 14 years old and has been living with Mama Safi, her husband and their four children in a simple mud and brick home for two years.
Mama Safi says that “Mwete’s presence in my family was not a struggle because I trusted God. I knew that God would provide. The little that we do have, we share. I don’t feel that it is a burden.”
Raising a large family isn’t easy but Mama Safi isn’t alone in caring for Mwete. He has a bigger family of support at the Care Point, with the Care Workers and the other children. He faithfully attends each day, and looks forward to his time there with friends. Mwete works hard at school, and encourages those around him to do the same. He dreams of being a doctor or a nurse in the future because he wants to help people.
At home, alongside his new siblings, he helps with gardening and household chores. “Every day when I wake up, if there is no water in the house, I carry the container to the bicycle and I go to fetch water. Then I look into my books if there is homework, I do. If there is still time, I start playing with my friends. When it is time, I prepare myself to go to the Care Point where I eat. After eating I go to school and then go back home.”
Mama Safi dreams about Mwete’s future, just like she does the rest of her children. She shares that what she hopes for him is that he will be a servant of God. We take him to church so that he can know God. Because if he knows God, it will change his life.
The Care Point is a place of hope where Mwete can play with his friends and receive love and support from the Care Workers. Through the treatment of the Care Workers and regular bible teachings, Mwete has learned that he has a Heavenly Father, that knows and loves.
Care Workers visit the children in their homes and look for ways that they can build relationships of love and trust with the children and their families. These visits are an opportunity to show of love of Christ through action, prayer and sharing the gospel. Mwete considers the Care Workers and the other children to be his family.
Mwete shares: “I’d like people to pray that I can be healthy so that I can study well and finish school. Pray for all our families to have peace and good health.”