Leja Bulela

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Visit our website for a full description of our goals and activities Visit our website for a full description of our goals and activities.

Leja Bulela, Inc is a non-profit organization created in 1993 in Detroit, Michigan by members of the Congolese Diaspora living throughout the United States, along with committed friends. We initiate projects in Kasai Oriental, teach our American-born children about Luba history, and we advocate for the fulfillment of human and economic rights in Congo. The majority of Leja Bulela members were born in Kasai, or are first-generation Congolese-Americans. We are a national organization with several chapters and we rotate our annual meeting among different cities throughout the United States. Membership is granted on application regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, creed, and nationality..

09/24/2026

As we continue celebrating 15 years of service at the Kalala Muzeu Health Center, we're highlighting the Delivering Dignity Project.

This project initially started in Kenya through a partnership with Hami Imani Africa. Since 2023, reusable menstrual kits have been sewn locally at the health center and distributed free of charge to women and girls in our community.

These kits provide a sustainable alternative to costly or unsuitable menstrual products, helping girls stay in school and go about their daily lives without interruption.

Improving quality of life is at the heart of Leja Bulela's mission, and Delivering Dignity is one more way we're making that possible.

A special shoutout to our board member, Mamu Jacky Kalubi for undertaking this project, and local journalist franck ciola for capturing 📷 the images and helping us share this work! We are thankful for the initial collaboration with Hami Imani and look forward to helping them continue to serve young women on the Continent! 🌍

09/10/2026

On the eve of the last mission day, Christian Brigades volunteers, local police, hotel staff, and friends, came to together to prepare care packages for the women in the maternity ward at the Kalala Muzeu Health Center. Swipe to the end to see the result!

Volunteer extraordinaire, Christina, learned a song in Tshiluba and sang to the children as she gave them new shoes!

Ishmael Montoya, the founder of Christian Brigades and the mission leader, gives an address at the 10-Year Celebration of the Kalala Muzeu Health Center. What do you think of his Tshiluba? 🤣

Executive Director, Muamba Kabongo, gives a history of Leja Bulela during the 10-year celebration. Thank you to all those who have been part of this mission since it started in 1993!

The Executive Committee members, Muamba and Tshiunza, present the Mayor of Mbujimayi, The Honorable Louis Ntumba, with a certificate of appreciation for his help coordinating the mission at the provincial level. For those who are unaware, individuals who are not of Congolese origin need official invitation letters to receive visas. The Mayor's office, along with local church partners, drafted and notarized letters for all 40 volunteers--no small task for such a large group!

The 10-Year celebration culminated with a musical performance by this wonderful choir. Full video is available on our YouTube channel!

During the mission, this young lady, Ms. Mujinga, took an interest in the group and observed operations every day. She lives in Tshibombo and wanted the diaspora to know that there are many needs here--especially for the young women--that need to be met. (More on this later). We appreciate her feedback and hope to continue to make things happen in Tshibombo.

At the very end of the mission, Dr. Brady, one of our Iron Ladies, presented the mothers in the maternity ward with diapers, clothing for their children, and a traditional liputa cloth to celebrate new life. Their reaction speaks volumes! We hope to do more of this in our new maternity ward!

09/09/2026

Day 4 of the mission proved to be bittersweet. We were happy to have worked, but sad to leave such a wonderful atmosphere. Swipe ➡️ to see some highlights!

The pavillion served as a critical work area during the mission and our nurses worked diligently to determine which patients would see which doctors.

Dr. Diggs removed a lipoma from a gentleman's arm. It has been bothering him for quite some time, and he finally felt relief.

The scene from inside the Kalala Muzeu Health Center during peak hours. Due to the language barrier, each patient required a translator and a local medical professional for each check-up. Our translators were superheros as they moved flawlessly between Tshiluba, Swahili, French, and English!

On the last day of the mission, several children received new shoes! Before receiving shoes, the Christian Brigades volunteers washed each child's feet as an act of ultimate service--following Jesus' example.

This iron ladies of the mission! 3 doctors, many nurses, and steady service. Could not have done it without them!

One of the great things Leja Bulela was able to do was partner with the University of Mbujimayi School of Medicine for the mission. These 5 med students served as translators, shadowed the doctors, observed medical procedures, and participated in consultations.

The San Francisco Bay was well-represented in Tshibombo!

Dr. Martin Kabongo, LB Board Member, stands proudly in front of the Kalala Muzeu Health Center with his sons Muamba and Tshilumba.

It's all fun and games after the work is done! Shout out to our terrific nurses for their amazing work!

A view of the crowd in front of the Kalala Muzeu Health Center after the mission. Tune in tomorrow for videos of the 10-year celebration!

09/08/2026

Day 3 was our Salmon shirt day! Like all days, the morning started off with prayer and an impromptu group picture in our matching uniforms! The Kalala Muzeu Health Center is located east of Mbujimayi and takes roughly 30 minutes to travel to from the center of town. Once on site, the team got to work! Whether it was outside under the pavillion or inside the building, every patient was treated with care and dignity. The busiest room in the center was the pharmacy. It was a combination of the New York Stock Exchange's trading floor and an animated NFL huddle. At the end of the day, with the sun setting beyond the palms, there was still a massive line and the team knew that Day 4, the final day, would be extremely busy. We are still grateful for this experience and hope to do it again VERY soon!

09/07/2026

This Labor Day, we are celebrating a different type of labor! During the 2021 medical mission trip with Christian Brigades, Dr. Jenna Diggs had the distinct pleasure of conducting the very first ultrasound at the Kalala Muzeu Health Center. The mother, who had given birth multiple times, had never seen any of her children prior to them being born. This was such a wonderful moment and highlights the importance of prenatal care and the expansion of Leja Bulela's maternity ward. Not only did Dr. Diggs conduct the first ultrasound, but she also delivered a health baby boy (on day 1)! His mother named him 'Jenna' in honor of the doctor who delivered him! Jenna's Shakena is doing well!

Tune in tomorrow for highlights of Day 3!

09/05/2026

Day 2 | Medical Mission 🇨🇩🩺

Word spread quickly. By morning, hundreds of people were waiting outside the Kalala Muzeu Health Center for the opportunity to receive free medical care. The radio ads we ran didn't hurt!

From patient registration to treatment — including a minor procedure to remove a lipoma — our team worked alongside local volunteers and medical students from the University of Mbujimayi, sharing knowledge while serving the community.

Stay tuned for more as we look back at 15 years of service at the Kalala Muzeu Health Center!

ShowThatYouCare

09/04/2026

to Day 1 of the Christian Brigades - Leja Bulela medical mission trip! The volunteer team was greated warmly with bikashi and mikunduluila and got straight to work serving those patiently waiting. Tune in tomorrow for more highlights as we continue to celebrate 15 years of service at the Kalala Muzeu Health Center!

09/03/2026

As we continue our celebration of the 15th year of the Kalala Muzeu Health Center, we are going to highlight our biggest undertaking over the next few days: our 2021 medical mission trip with Christian Brigades! This trip has had a lasting impact on our organization and, as you'll see over the next few days, the impact on the ground was undeniable.

The Christian Brigades volunters--most of whom are based in California--pose for a picture during their layover in Istanbul!

Medical supplies and medication for the mission arrived safely in Kinshasa!

The baggage claim at N'djili is not for the weak! Luckily, we had no issues recuperating all luggage and supplies.

Because our flight to Mbujimayi was so early in the morning, all 40 volunteers spent the night at the airport.

Board member, Jacky Kalubi, makes the most of the accommodations at the airport the night before take off.

The volunteer team lands in Mbujimayi!

As is the Christian Brigades tradition, each mission day requires a different shirt! This helps to build team unity and it also helps those they serve identify team members quickly. Day 1 color: purple!

Day 2 Color - Green

Day 3 Color - Salmon

Day 4 Color - Light Blue

08/31/2026

15 Years of the Kalala Muzeu Health Center | Building for the Future 🌍❤️

From 2014-2020, the Kalala Muzeu Health Center continued to grow—strengthening the infrastructure, tools and partnerships needed to better serve Tshibombo Tshimuangi and the surrounding communities.

🚰 Upgraded toilet facilities and, thanks to a fundraising campaign by the Order of the Eastern Star (Ohio Chapter), we constructed a cistern to capture and store fresh water

💉 Installed a deep freezer for safe vaccine storage

🌾 Became a USAID food distribution center

📱 Partnered with Public Health graduate students from Saint Louis University to develop a childhood vaccine tracker for infants born at the KMHC

🏍️ Purchased a motorcycle to help staff travel between the health center, Mbujimayi, and surrounding villages

Each improvement built on the last—making KMHC more accessible, more capable, and better equipped to care for the community.

15 years later, we’re still building. Still growing. Still showing that we care. ❤️

Address

3030 W. Fuqua Street #450462
Houston, TX
77245

Website

http://www.lejabulela.org/

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