On the morning of July 7th, at HEAL Africa’s children’s center in Goma, expressions of joy and tears mingled as 52 children, known as Enfants Bien Aimés (EBA = Beloved Children) stood to say their final goodbyes. After five months of refuge, love, and transformation, their time to return home had come.

“We would like to say thank you to HEAL Africa and all our teachers who have taken care of us during our time here,” they said, united in one voice. “We have been learning from your lessons, character, advice, and dedication to the work of Christ by helping children like us. We love you so much, and we are ready to change the world and become the children you dream of when you see us.”

These were not just words; they were the evidence of healing, of young lives once thrown into chaos by war, now filled with hope and purpose.

A Flight from the Streets

Before they arrived at HEAL Africa, these 52 children were living on the streets; vulnerable, abandoned, and left to fend for themselves. When conflict erupted earlier this year, they became the most at risk. With no homes to flee to, they ran to the only place they knew as a safe haven: HEAL Africa, where they had previously participated in a daytime outreach program.

“We came for safety. We stayed because we found family,” said one of the boys.

The children arrived on January 27^th, and were taken in permanently. Over the following months, they were schooled, counselled, cared for, and guided through a process of emotional and spiritual rehabilitation. Behind their resilience were stories of trauma: some had escaped family conflict, others were neglected, and some had simply wandered away, lost and unsure of how to return.

A journey home!

Throughout the month of June, HEAL Africa’s team of dedicated teachers worked tirelessly to find the children’s families. Traveling through neighbourhoods in Goma, they were able to identify families for 30 of the children. Sadly, 22 children still remain without known family connections because their families are outside of Goma. 

On Monday, July 7th, a reintegration ceremony brought together children, parents, guardians, and staff for a deeply emotional reunion. Songs, dances, and prayers filled the space as children who had once been feared lost were embraced again.

“I thought Steve had died,” said his grandmother, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I looked for him in mortuaries. When I saw him walking in with one of the teachers, I was astonished but also filled with joy. We may not have much to give you in return, but we are forever grateful.”

Parents embraced their children some through tears of relief, others in stunned silence. For many, this was a moment they  imagined would never come.

Chaplain Damiri, project lead and spiritual mentor addressed the families with a solemn reminder: “Parents are the primary people responsible for the education of their children. If they don’t intentionally do so, the streets will.”

Kika one of the team managers added: “We have been with these children every day and every night, and we have given our best. Now that you have them again, take good care of them. These children are a blessing. They are the great leaders of tomorrow.”

As each child left, they were given a small reintegration kit of mattress, blanket, beans, and rice meant to ease their return and symbolize a new beginning. The Work continues.

While the ceremony marked a joyful milestone, it was not the end of the journey. Many of the conditions that led these children to the streets remain unchanged. Families are still recovering from the aftermath of war. Some parents now have even fewer resources than before. Some children face the challenge of reintegration into households that are emotionally or materially broken.

The role of HEAL Africa does not end at the gate.

“We still walk with these children,” said one of the psychologists. “They have seen and experienced things no child should. Some wounds are invisible, and they need time, love, and understanding to fully heal.”

A special follow-up program has been set in place for the 30 children now back home in Goma. The 22 children still awaiting family identification remain under care and monitoring, with efforts ongoing to trace their roots. The HEAL Africa EBA program also plans to support families through parenting workshops and entrepreneurship training empowering caregivers to build stable homes and livelihoods.

Together we Heal

None of this would have been possible without the generosity of our partners who chose to stand with the most vulnerable. To you, we say thank you. You made it possible for these children to not just survive but to return to their homes, to hope, and to dream.

This mission is far from over. The road to lasting transformation is long and often steep. But together, we can walk it.

As HEAL Africa looks to the future, the focus expands: training parents in parenting skills and entrepreneurship, helping families establish income-generating activities, and ensuring that children never have to return to the streets.

Together, we can work to ensure that no child is ever left behind. Please stand with us as we seek to achieve these goals. Your support will change the future of these children. Because when a child says, “We are ready to change the world” we must be ready to believe them and to stand with them, every step of the way!