One of the visible ramifications of the chronic conflict in DR Congo is the numerous orphaned children. 

Tens of thousands of these innocent children, as well as vulnerable, young adults and women are confronted daily with physical harm, violence, danger, exploitation, fear and even loss of life in DR Congo. They are sometimes compelled to flee to neighbouring cities and villages either together with their single mothers or alone whilst some witness the horrendous butchering of their loved ones. 

Their communities are torn apart and can no longer provide a secure environment for their survival as educational facilities; infrastructure and playgrounds are destroyed or taken over by unscrupulous armed groups.  Since the foundations of their families are completely broken, their rights are violated on a massive scale: their rights to be protected from violence, abuse and neglect; their rights to have a home and to live in dignity; their rights to good and affordable education, and their rights to good medical care, among others. 

As a consequence of these unspeakable atrocities and trauma they gradually lose confidence, hope and trust in themselves and in the communities in which they inhabit. Hence they often become anxious, depressed and withdrawn, or rebellious and aggressive. 

However, it would take well-meaning individuals, corporate organisations, local and international communities, as well as governments and opinion leaders in good standing to make it their unflinching duty and responsibility to ensure that they provide a conducive and secured environment for children who find themselves in orphanages; dotted around the country to grow and become beneficial to themselves and their societies.  

It is in the light of this that 13th Ghanaian Battalion of the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in DR Congo decided to identify and adopt Jeunes au Soleil in Masina Petro-Congo, one of the orphanages in DR Congo, in order to demonstrate the Ghanaian hospitality and help put some smiles on their faces. To do this, the Battalion conducted a medical outreach programme on Saturday 27 May 2017 that covered medical and dental screening for sixty (60) children and ten (10) Caretakers at the Jeunes au Soleil Orphanage. There was also a deworming exercise, after which medications of various kinds were administered to them. Moreover, the Battalion provided refreshment for the children and caretakers of the orphanage at the end of the programme. 

The Commanding Officer of the Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel William Adarkwah Kwabiah said it was the desire of the Battalion to support these innocent but deprived children who have become victims of armed conflicts through no fault of theirs. 

Furthermore, the Battalion despite its logistics and resource constrains, wishes to help restore the hope, confidence and trust of orphans. This is necessary to enable them develop their full potentials and build positive outlook with which to shape their own future so as to contribute to a peaceful future of their communities.

As we dine and wine in the comfort of our homes, let us all have compassion on the unfortunate children and widows in these war-torn countries by contributing our ‘widow’s mite’ to support them. They need us and we dare not shirk our responsibilities towards them as citizens of the world.