My name is Ntumba Melodie. This mission to bring education to children in Congo is deeply personal to me. Growing up as an orphan in a refugee camp, I often had to drop out of school in order to support my family and sell edible dirt so we could have a meal on our table and a roof over our heads. This act alone left me feeling unworthy of knowledge and very jealous of other children who would wear their uniforms every morning and get to sit in a classroom gaining knowledge.

Although I was later enrolled in a classroom at the age of 12 when my family was sponsored to Canada, I still had to start from the absolute basics —like my ABCs — because I was behind compared to other kids my age. This created feelings of insecurity, frustration, self-pity, and many more. Nevertheless, I am thankful for the opportunity I got to learn. Therefore, I want to give this same opportunity I had back to the children in Congo, who usually have to drop out of school to support their families like I did; who usually sit by the market side envying other children in uniforms. I believe to better support Congo in a sustainable and effective way, we must invest in the next generation through education.

Your generosity will ensure:

· A child gets a scholarship to support their educational expenses and tuition.

· It will provide meals for children in our educational program.

· It will ensure more children can sit in a classroom.

Every dollar you give is a life being transformed.

Please visit www.hopegclm.com and join our email list for updates on your generosity.