Too often portrayed through the lens of instability, Goma School Fund (GSF) Mugunga Primary School tells a different story, one shaped by children’s laughter, music, and shared moments. Supported by HEAL Africa, with the backing of its partner WorldShare, the school became, for the duration of a celebration, a true haven of joy.

Located in a peripheral neighborhood of Goma, GSF Mugunga serves children from some of the region’s most vulnerable families, where daily life is marked by uncertainty and scarcity. “Most families are going through extremely difficult situations. Finding enough food to eat every day remains a real challenge,” explains Myatsi Lafasi Joseph, the school’s headteacher. In such a context, Christmas goes far beyond a simple festivity–it becomes a rare opportunity to restore to children what is rightfully theirs: carefreeness and joy.

The 2025 Christmas celebration brought together pupils, teachers, and members of the surrounding community. Children received gifts, while those born at the end of the year were honored with shared cakes baked in their names. A communal meal followed, offering everyone a precious moment: eating together, celebrating, and feeling included. The schoolyard turned into an improvised dance floor, where teachers and pupils danced side by side.

Sharing as a catalyst for change

The impact of these moments extends well beyond a single day. “When children return home, they talk about what they experienced at school, and that encourages others to enroll. It shows the love and care we give to children,” said Headteacher Joseph. He added that these celebrations are eagerly awaited by the entire community, to the point that on some days, “there is enough food for even non-enrolled children to benefit.”

Teachers also emphasize the importance of the event. Darlose, a teacher at GSF Mugunga, highlights its lasting effect on school motivation: “Children do not want to miss school for fear of missing the celebration. They learn how to share. For many who never celebrate their birthdays at home, this is a very special moment.” She even noted that these exchanges lead some children to ask their parents about their date of birth, information many pupils do not know at Mugunga.

Parents, too, feel the impact of these initiatives. David, a pupil’s father, shares his experience: “These activities bring courage, joy, and strengthen unity. When children come home with gifts, we are very happy to see the effort the school makes, even when we are not able to do so ourselves.”

From the children’s perspective, the words are simple yet telling. Joyce, 10 years old, sums up the day with spontaneity: “We are very happy because when HEAL Africa comes, we receive food and gifts. We also celebrate birthdays with cakes and songs. It is always fun.”

More than a celebration, this Christmas event was a meaningful and motivating gesture for the children of Mugunga district. In an environment marked by so much uncertainty, the school, through the support of HEAL Africa and its partners, offers children something rare and invaluable: stability, recognition, and a sense of belonging. For a few hours, the children were no longer defined by hardship, but by laughter, music, and the freedom to dance, with the certainty of being seen, cared for, and not forgotten.