Cambridge Who’s Who member, Victorine Ngangu, is founder and chief executive officer of Help the Children of Africa, a non-profit organization providing food, clothing and school tuition for orphans and street children who attend several small schools in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire), Africa. These schools do not receive government support, but are funded by modest donations from Zairians who have migrated to Europe and the United States. The former residents have not forgotten the conditions of their homeland, and so they actively donate to ensure that the children there receive proper care and school instruction.
Help the Children of Africa supports three schools: Maman Ntima, Centre de Promotion Sociale de Kalamu and Ecole Rumaire Yolo Sud. Maman Ntima serves 103 children and has two divisions, one for pre-school children and another for elementary through high school-aged children. The school does not provide food or overnight accommodations for students. Its water supply is also unhealthy, as the water is untreated.
Centre de Promotion Sociale de Kalamu serves junior high to college students. Enrollment is between 340 and 520 students. Most of the students are from the streets and underprivileged. The school teaches students to sew, read and perform mechanical work. Again, food and sleeping accommodations are not provided and there is only one bathroom that boys and girls must share. The cost of tuition at this school is $50 to $100 per year per child.
The last school aided by Help the Children of Africa is Ecole Rumaire Yolo Sud, an elementary school serving 550 students. There is only one shared bathroom in the facility, no food offered during the school day and no available lodging or medical facilities. The school has 44 educated and licensed teachers.
Born in the town of Kimpese in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Victorine Ngangu founded Help the Children of Africa because of her caring nature and desire to help children. Ngangu currently lives in Los Angeles, California and has recently written a book, Eyes of Africa: In the Eyes of Africans, based on true stories regarding pressing economic, social and cultural issues. Ngangu earned her bachelor’s degree in graphic design from Loyola Marymount University in 2002. In the future she hopes to expand Help the Children of Africa to help more children in need.
To make a donation to Help the Children of Africa, please send a check payable to: Help the Children of Africa, P.O. Box 661006, Los Angeles, CA, 90066 or visit www.helpchildrenofafrica.org to make a donation online. To purchase a copy of Eyes of Africa, go to www.helpchildrenofafrica.org/author.html. Ngangu is donating 10% of the proceeds from every book sold to Help the Children of Africa.
This organization is wonderful! Because Victorine Ngangu is a member of Cambridge Who’s Who, I know that she will receive a great deal of online exposure, especially with over 400,000 active members on the Cambridge Who’s Who website. Hopefully she is able to raise a lot of money. Being that I am a Mom, I look forward to hearing more about Help the Children of Africa. I also encourage Ms. Ngangu to create an account with Cambridge Who’s Who Connect.