A house mother stepped out of her small cottage, clutching a book in her hand. It was warm outside, but what truly stirred the ground were the joyful shouts and the pattering of tiny feet. Children rushed toward her from every direction, eyes bright with expectancy. She barely had time to sit before they gathered around, their eager faces turning toward the colorful pages. Together, they repeated English words, their voices resounding across the village. The house mother knew that these moments, reading Bible stories and learning new words, meant so much more. For these children, who were once consumed by the daily fight for survival, it was a chance for them to thrive.
Love grows as abundantly as its flourishing mazes in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At Bolingo Village, the mission is to nurture orphaned and abandoned children and give them the loving homes, nutrition, and care they need to thrive. But as you step off the bus and into the village, you’ll quickly realize it’s less of an orphanage and more like a family. And like any family, it takes a village to make it work.
Lorna Mitchell, who works with the Global Orphan Foundation, has seen firsthand how this little corner of the world has impacted the lives of numerous children of Congo.
“Bolingo means ‘love’ in Lingala, and that is what we hope shines through the most in the village.”
Bolingo Village is the Global Orphan Foundation’s signature project and is designed to feel more like a home than a traditional organization. Cozy cottages spread across the property, home to eight or nine children, lovingly cared for by widowed women who are employed as foster mothers.
“By employing widowed women as licensed foster moms and limiting each cottage to hold eight to nine children, we are able to create a family environment.”
What makes Bolingo even more impressive is its self-sustainability. Surrounding the cottages, you’ll find a flourishing farm full of life. There are fields of peanuts, maize, and sweet potatoes — each crop is grown to nourish the children’s growing bodies with essential vitamins and minerals.
“Thankfully, we have on-call medical staff and access to Plumpy’Nut, a ready-to-use therapeutic food that is designed to treat malnutrition,” she explained proudly. “These resources, alongside the support from many in the U.S., have allowed us to provide three meals a day to every child. Together, we are literally saving children’s lives.”
Sweet potatoes, green vegetables, and maize are all important parts of the children’s daily meals, while goats and chickens provide fresh milk and eggs, rich in vitamin A and protein.
While the farm is prospering, the challenges are real. Malnutrition is still a glaring issue for children arriving at Bolingo. Mitchell remembered one particular boy who was found on the streets, severely malnourished, weighing just 22 pounds.
“The doctor estimated his age to be 7. The lack of proper nutrients in his body for an unknown length of time contributed to additional physical and cognitive disabilities. Because of our resources, we watched him gain 10 pounds in just six weeks and saw life come back into his eyes.”
Outside of the farm, Bolingo Village is equipped with its own medical clinic, and the children receive trauma counseling and spiritual support to heal from their difficult pasts.
“We want them to not just survive but thrive,” Mitchell said.
Despite the village being a world away, the generosity of the Tullahoma community has been a blessing for the children of Bolingo. Mitchell recently spoke at the Tullahoma Sunrise Rotary Club, sharing the village’s success stories and challenges. Afterward, the Rotary Club gifted her a tote filled with books for the children.
“As soon as I would step outside of my cottage with a book in hand, the children would come running from all directions to surround me,” Mitchell recalled. “They loved seeing the pictures and repeating the words in English after me. They especially loved reading the Bible stories.”
It’s the little things, like a tote of books, that make the biggest difference at Bolingo.
“These little ones have already lost so much and often live in a state of survival. For so long, their focus was finding the next meal and making it through the day. Now that they are seen, safe, and fed, we want to help them dream again and find a life they never thought possible,” she said. “I was so thankful for the opportunity to expand their minds and remind them that their story is still filled with beauty.”
For anyone wondering how they can help, Mitchell is quick to point out that every contribution — big or small — counts.
“Sometimes people feel like they have to write a hefty check or sponsor a huge fundraiser in order to make a difference — which is always welcome. But I have found that just doing even a little helps — sharing our information, liking a post, hosting a clothing drive, sending $10 a month, and the list goes on.”
As for the future of Bolingo Village, Mitchell hopes the program continues to be a source of love and growth for the children.
“We want these children to grow up with the skills, resources, and love they need to follow the path God has for them,” she said. “Yes, there’s darkness in this world, but because of Jesus, there’s always hope.”
Since its beginning, the Global Orphan Foundation has changed thousands of children’s lives through missions in Haiti, Nicaragua, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The organization is proof that when a community comes together — whether in Congo or Tennessee — amazing things happen. It really does take a village. And in this village, love is always in abundant supply. GN
