Green Leaf Kinshasa Orphan and Widows Project

17/07/2026

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

One of our supporters asked some questions, and we thought others would be interested in the replies:

The children are orphans. How did the parents die? Have they lost two parents or one parent?

Generally we don’t know. Malaria is the most common cause of death among young people in Kinshasa. Tscharra will consider asking the children, but will not do so if he thinks it would upset them. In some cases, one of the parents may still be alive, but totally unable to support the child. 2 children live with their mother, but their father has died. It’s possible that some of the children may have been abandoned by their parents, because they couldn’t afford to keep them.

Would it be better for them to be adopted, rather than living with foster parents?

The level of poverty in Kinshasa is very high and increasing. It is extremely unlikely anyone would adopt them. The foster parents can manage as they have support from Green Leaf,

Could you give examples of the food you buy for the children, and how much it costs?
We buy a variety of food for the children, sometimes including onions, tomatoes, cooking oil
Things we often buy, with prices, include:
Rice 25 kilos for 25 dollars
Sugar 5 kilos fir 6 dollars
Sardines 1 dollars a can
Dried beans 800 grams for 1.5 dollars

Does Green Leaf employ any workers?
No – it’s all done by volunteers, both in the UK and in Kinshasa.

How will the money I donate be spent?
On school fees, food and medical costs for the children, and for internet and travel costs for volunteers in DRC. You can see our accounts if you look us up on the Charity Commission website. The name of the charity is GREEN LEAF AID FOR KINSHASA (Charity no 1192679)

Can donations be gift aided?
Yes, if you are a taxpayer, as we are a registered charity. Email [email protected] to ask for a form.

Is there a minimum size for a donation?
No. Donations of any size are welcome.

08/07/2026

07/07/2026

TRUSTEES’ MEETING

We had our Trustees’ meeting today. The children were with Tscharra and Charlene, as they were distributing food, so we were able to talk with them on WhatsApp. (Reception was poor on Zoom.) We will be sending another box to Kinshasa with school materials (pens, rubbers etc), food (porridge, fish etc) and will also send sanitary towels, as the older girls have been asking for these, and they are much cheaper in England than in DRC. We are now supporting 11 children. The 12-year-old twins whom we have just taken on are the youngest.

We are thinking about how to prepare the children for employment when they reach 18 years old. Some are studying construction, electrics, dress-making, and learning to drive to prepare to be a taxi driver. We will discuss this further at our next meeting on 24 September.

06/07/2026

Tscharra has informed us that he has taken on two more children, who are twins. More info to follow. We now have 11 children.

24/06/2026

One of the children learning dressmaking

24/06/2026

Tscharra and Charlene, organisers in Kinshasa

24/06/2026

MANCHESTER & WARRINGTON AREA QUAKER MEETING
NEWSLETTER APRIL 2026

GREEN LEAF AID TO KINSHASA
We are currently supporting 9 children who are orphans, living with foster families in Kinshasa, DRC, and are looking into taking on a tenth. They vary in age from 12 to 18. We buy food and deliver it to the families, and pay for schooling and medical expenses. We aim that the children should be able to earn a living before they leave our care. One is training to be a driver, others are learning dressmaking, electrics, building and other trades.

We are a tiny charity, with an income of about £3,000 to £4,000 a year. However, in DRC, a little money and the care and attention of our two organisers in DRC, can transform lives. Tscharra and Charlene, our organisers, visit the children, distribute food, organise getting them into school and paying the fees, and arrange medical treatment including in hospital when necessary.


Tscharra and Charlene shopping for food for the children

This is one of the children we are supporting. She is learning dress-making at school to support herself when she leaves our care.

The organisers say:

Hi Green leaf!

We here would like to thank you sincerely for the great work you are doing in supporting the orphans.

Make sure and be really proud of it, any single penny is of the great benefits of them. That they study and eat regularly is the joy you are sharing for their good.

May you be deeply rewarded.

Tscharra and Charlene
The organisers

We are limiting the number of children we help to 10, though we have the practical ability to support at least 15, because we would need more funding. We have given attention to running the project, and have rather neglected fundraising. We are now planning to update our website and Facebook, and to issue a newsletter. We will hold a meeting for supporters, potential supporters and interested people on Tuesday 12 May from 3pm to 4pm, to talk about our work and answer questions. Tscharra and Charlene will be at the meeting. All are welcome.

The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89340998008?pwd=KzMyVUZWY3dsSjB5QXBmOFUrQVpjUT09
Meeting ID: 893 4099 8008
Passcode: 849492

Elizabeth Coleman, Jacques Kanda, Fideline Kanda
Trustees

Green Leaf Aid for Kinshasa is a registered charity no 1192679

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