The International Widows and Orphans Fund (IWOF) is a nonprofit organization that primarily focuses on supporting orphaned children and widowed women in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Congo is a country located in central Africa and it is bordered by nine countries: Central African Republic, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Angola and the Republic of Congo. 

Civil War

The DRC’s involvement in war is what has caused hardships for its civilians, especially women and children. The conflict has orphaned children and left many women widowed. Additionally, there has been an increase in violence and rape toward women and children during this period of war, which has lasted for more than 30 years. Around 7,000 people have lost their lives since January 2025. Women and children often face the greatest risks in situations like this.

Orphans in Congo

There are a variety of reasons why children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo become orphans. One main reason is that bad actors use rape as a strategy of war. As a result, many women become pregnant and abandon their babies on the streets due to embarrassment and social judgment. The country lacks organizations that protect orphans and communities often reject these children, leaving them with nowhere to go. Another reason for orphans in the DRC is poverty. When families are incapable of providing for their children, they resort to child abandonment.

Exploitation in the DRC

Due to their vulnerability, orphans are often exploited in various ways. In the DRC, adults take advantage of these children. Some law enforcement personnel have used them to disrupt political protests. Others exploit them as cheap, manual labor, often providing little or no pay. Some have also forced these children into sex and drug trafficking. The Congolese army has also used orphans as child soldiers. At one point, children made up as much as 40% of the army. They are often denied food, water and medical care. Recruits are trained to fight and carry out unlawful acts against civilians, exposing them to severe trauma and violence at a young age.

IWOF’s Mission

The IWOF began with one email in 2013. This email was from a friend and it detailed the story of 35 orphans in the DR of Congo, who were hidden from rebel soldiers in a wooded area. IWOF initially paid for school fees and uniforms. As the organization built a stronger relationship with the Grace Orphanage, it expanded its support. Since then, IWOF has constructed housing for 46 orphans, established a farm with animals and crops and built a learning center. The organization sends 97% of its raised funds directly to the Grace Orphanage in the DRC. The IWOF team also regularly visits and inspects the facilities.

Widows and Orphans Fund

IWOF not only supports orphans, but also supports widows. More than 5 million people have died in the civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has been ongoing for more than 30 years. As a result, many women have lost their husbands, leaving them widowed. These widows live without a stable source of income and often turn to prostitution. The majority of these widows also have no education. There are roughly 120 widows staying at Grace Orphanage. IWOF opened a reading center in 2018 to provide them and their children with reading and writing help, meals, school supplies, toys and games, socialization and health information.

IWOF’s Accomplishments

Over the last 10 years, IWOF has:

• Built four houses that support 46 children
• Built two houses for staff
• Remodeled the first house into an on-site library and administrative office
• Built a reading center and supported 10 women through a reading and business program
• Built an agricultural area that produces crops for food
• Installed the first phase of a septic system
• Built a communal kitchen that feeds 54 people daily, including children and staff
• Installed a water well with a solar pump to provide fresh water to the orphanage and nearby community
• Installed solar power to supply the houses
• Built a gate and wall for security
• Purchased two acres of land for future housing at Grace Orphanage

Looking Ahead

IWOF plans to expand further in the coming years. Its goal is to provide housing for up to 60 orphans in the DRC and for the orphanage to become self-sufficient. The organization plans to build another house to accommodate more children. It also aims to grow its reading and business program to include microloans and mentorship for widows, helping them successfully run their own businesses. Supplying vegetables and chickens is also part of IWOF’s future plans. The organization hopes to rely less on donations and move toward long-term self-sufficiency. 

– Ella Burke

Ella is based in Lawrence, KS, USA and focuses on Good News, Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr