OUR WORK

Mauwa*, 25, is attending a clinic where her daughter, Solange*, 5 months old, is undergoing treatment for pneumonia. Her daughter is being treated with the support of Save the Children in Goma, North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo. Arlette Bashizi / Save the Children

Furaha*, 32, holds her daughter Safi* who is suffering from severe malnutrition. During a consultation at the health centre, the nurse, Rachel* takes her brachial perimeter, which is red. The health centre is supported by Save the Children in Goma, North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo. Arlette Bashizi/ Save the Children

"I refused, I told them that I didn’t want this to happen. I was not scared and I said "that's not right". Mbombo*, 16 STORY SUMMARY Picture this. You're a teenage girl. Some guests arrive at your home and your father tells you to bring them some chairs. You do as he asks, but as you approach the group, you are told one of them, a man in his 50s, is to be your husband. What do you do? Are you brave enough to say no? Mbombo* was. This was the situation that the 16-year-old found herself in just a year ago. She lives in the Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where life is hard, illiteracy levels are high and outcomes for girls have traditionally been bleak. But 2024 was also the year that Mbombo* started attending classes as part of Axe Filles - our UK Aid funded education programme focused on girls. At the SRH lessons (sexual and reproductive health) she learnt about puberty, gender and her rights: "I heard about child marriage for the first time in the club, where they taught us that you shouldn’t get married...and leave school before the age of 18" she explains. Her mum Mputu* had also started learning about the very same issues - through the Axe Filles' outreach events and sessions in the community - in particular those led by Papa Francis*, a social worker and safeguarding lead at the local primary school. Papa Francis had already completed three different Save the Children training sessions as part of the programme. And it is his help that Mputu and her daughter quickly sought. Papa Francis attempted to speak with Mbombo's father but it was futile. So he got the local chiefs involved and eventually the police. The dowry was returned to the man, and Mbombo's father left in shame, to live with his second wife. Today Mbombo says "all that is on my mind is studying". She has managed to complete primary school and is now in the first year of secondary. She dreams of becoming an expert tailor so she can be 'autonmous' and spends any spare time she can helping and learning from Papa Francis in his tailoring workshop. * In DRC 'Papa' and Maman' are used as a term of endearment Hugh Kinsella Cunningham / Save the Children

Elisabeth*, 50, is a mother and grandmother in the Democratic Republic of Congo who farms to feed her family. Each day she faced long, exhausting journeys to fetch water, leaving her children to go to school hungry. The lack of water caused constant stress, as it is essential for cooking, cleaning and drinking. Thanks to Save the Children, a nearby spring was restored, transforming her life and bringing her peace of mind. Patou Dombi / Save the Children

Hugh Kinsella Cunningham / Save the Children

Messi*, 14, lives with his 34-year-old mother Josephine* as well as his three siblings in Eastern DRC. In 2021, the family’s house burnt down after a volcano eruption. The family didn’t know where to go after the volcano eruption, so they left alongside other people in their village to find a new place to live. In their new community, the family struggles to find enough food to eat. If there’s food, the family eats one meal per day. Sometimes, however, the family goes to bed without eating. Before the volcano eruption, Messi*s mother worked in the bean fields. This meant that the family had income as well as food throughout harvest season. Now, during the day, Messi*s mother travels to the nearby city centre to try to find work. If she manages to find work, she makes a small amount of income by doing other people’s laundry. Sometimes, she’s given clothing and food in exchange for laundry services too. Messi* doesn’t go to school anymore, so – to help his mother – he fetches water and runs small errands. If he isn’t helping his mother, Messi* goes to a Child-Friendly Space to play football with other children. He loves football. His favourite professional football player is Lionel Messi. In the future, Messi* wants to return to school. He dreams of becoming a pilot. Messi* was supported by going to a Child-Friendly Space in Eastern DRC. A Child-Friendly Space is a Save the Children emergency intervention that provides children with protected environments in which they participate in organised activities to play, socialise, and learn. In addition, a Child-Friendly Space provides psychological support to children who have, in many cases, fled conflict or a natural disaster. Lucien*, a supervisor at a Child-Friendly Space set-up in Eastern DRC, says that children are encouraged to be themselves. Hannah Mornment / Save the Children

Louis*, 15, joined an armed group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) out of hunger and desperation when he was just 13. The trajectory of his life shifted dramatically at the age of eight when his father, a successful businessman and the family’s only breadwinner, was attacked and killed by an armed group. Following his father's death, Louis* and his mother faced financial hardships, struggling to afford food and reducing their meals from three times a day to only once a day. When Louis* was 10, he dropped out of school to work with his mother on a farm. However, one day the fields were destroyed by livestock from Nomads passing through the area. Afterwards, Louis* lost hope and concluded that his only option to earn money for his family was to join an armed group. At just 13, Louis* became one of the armed recruits working as a commander guard. Not only was he exposed to weapons, firearms, and violence, Louis* had to also loot homes and steal from others in order to eat. “That was life there, we only ate at night and if you didn't search, you couldn't eat,” Louis* said. The turning point was when Louis* was ordered to kill a boy and he refused: “they told me that if I disobeyed, they would kill me. It was upon hearing this that I decided to flee” . Having escaped and taken refuge in the jungle for weeks, Louis* was found by a staff from the Youth Association for Community Development (AJEDEC), a local organisation partnered with Save the Children in Ituri Province that aims to promote the wellbeing of young people. He now lives with other children at an orientation and transit center supported by AJEDEC. The center supports children affected by child rights violations and those associated with armed groups by providing family reunification, health services, and vocational training. Louis* is now learning to sew and make clothes. He eats regularly and socialises with others his age. “When I finish my training, I will start making clothing, and with the money I earn, I can pay for my education because my wish is to go back to school,” said Louis*. Hugh Kinsella Cunningham/ Save the Children

Isabelle*, 25, sits with her chickens - supplied by Save the Children - inside her tent in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Recent heavy fighting between armed groups and government forces in eastern DRC has displaced hundreds of thousands of children and adults. It’s the worst escalation of violence in the country in more than a decade. Many displaced families are going hungry due to the ongoing insecurities, with child malnutrition on the rise. Save the Children and its partner organisation are supporting displaced families with food security and income generating activities. We are assisting families to set up community and individual gardens to grow nutritious food such as beans and carrots, supplying families with chickens so they can eat and sell the eggs and providing cash to people to start-up small businesses. We are also offering business, agricultural and veterinarian advice to help families succeed. Save the Children

Tumusifu*, 32, is a victim of devastating floods in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo. Married and mother of 5 children, Tumusifu* practiced cassava, maize, and sweet potato farming for the survival of her family. With the floods in May 2023, Tumusifu lost her home and her fields that were her only source of income for the family's survival. The family moved to a camp built for flood victims where life is very difficult. Her family spent sleepless nights, eating nothing. Tumusifu and her husband were forced to send their children to relatives because they didn't have enough food. Tumusifu's family received food assistance packages from Save the Children and she now hopes to bring her children home. Elias Mcito/Save the Children