Malinga left the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC, then known as Zaire) in 1996 to escape the violence and civil war there. Since leaving her homeland, she hasn’t had the opportunity to return to visit her remaining family. She would like to plan a trip for this coming Summer, but it’s difficult to save with four children (one of whom will be starting college next Fall). Since Malinga was forced to flee Congo, both of her parents have passed away, and so have her brother, who was the first-born of the family, and her sister, who acted as the first coordinator of the Ibutwa Initiative (an organization in Vermont that served women who suffered sexual violence in the DRC). Please donate so she can visit the family graves, and see her other brothers and sisters after twenty five years.

On a personal note, Malinga is one of the hardest-working people I have met in my life. She holds down two jobs and parents her four children with grace and joy. She is motivated by a very strong faith. I feel blessed to call her my friend.