Earlier this year. I received an email from a pastor leading a large group of Congolese refugees living on the border between Tanzania and the Dem. Rep. of the Congo. Reports are that tens of thousands of adults and children who fled rebel war in their native country of the Congo are virtually held behind fencing at the border with Tanzania. The circumstances are dire because they cannot return home nor enter the country of Tanzania. The pastor says they will surely be killed by rebels who threaten their lives for fleeing, but are held inside fencing without the basic needs of food, housing, work or school. They remain in limbo after years of being refugees.
In 2006, Memory Books for Children received an envelope of several hundred children’s photos requesting help. Confused I questioned whether a Memory Book would be useful to children with such great need. Quietly in my spirit, I reminded myself they surely have lost everything as a refugee, including their beloved homeland. Why wouldn’t the opportunity to preserve and tell their personal stories help heal the wounds from loss, and inspire resiliency and hope for a future?
Today, the pastor’s email conveys concern for the Memory Book Club operating inside the refugee camp. Oh my, I thought, I never dreamed we would face bad news from our efforts to make children’s lives better.
His email revealed this month 1400 children attended Memory Book Club. Each month more and more children learn about the club, often through word-of-mouth. The attending children invite other children to come and experience Memory Book Club for themselves. The problem is, they need bathrooms for this many children to maintain the quality of the club events because club is held in open air setting where children have nowhere to relieve themselves.
"What?" I thought to myself. Of course, without bathrooms, children are at risk of acquiring disease and illness due to fecal matter littering the grounds where they walk.
Immediately, my husband and I requested plans and estimated costs from the pastor. The pastor’s plans include 4 buildings to house 10 bathrooms each including a storage room for supplies and equipment, at a cost of $9,000.00 per building. We have offered to sponsor two buildings at a cost of $18.000.00,
We look forward to hearing about the completion of the restrooms for use by children and adults at Memory Book Club. My hope and prayer is Ron and I will be able to travel to Kasulu, Tanzania, not to see restrooms but the 1400 children who come to Memory Book Club each month to celebrate the discovery, ‘My life matters to God. I am somebody.’
- By Tamara Faris, Founder, Memory Books for Children International