In the aftermath of losing Philemon this week, I have been thinking constantly about our home in Goma and what these children truly need moving forward.

For years, the priority has been survival. Keeping children fed. Keeping them in school. Keeping them safe amid war, displacement, food insecurity, disease outbreaks, and ongoing instability in eastern Congo. The compound itself evolved over time as more vulnerable children arrived. Structures were added as resources allowed. Emergency solutions slowly became long-term living conditions.

Then in January 2025, fighting in Goma damaged parts of the orphanage compound itself.

Since then, we have worked to stabilize and protect the property, including building a ten-foot volcanic stone wall around the entire compound. But inside those walls, there is still enormous work to do.

Too many children are still sleeping on floors or sharing beds. The electrical system remains unreliable. Parts of the roof leak during heavy rains. Sanitation infrastructure is limited. The unfinished dormitory wing was never completed after funding ran out. The small courtyard inside the compound now has to function as gathering space, garden, play area, and food production zone all at once.

At the same time, eastern Congo continues to face overlapping crises. Much of the surrounding region remains under rebel control. Food insecurity continues to worsen. Displacement remains constant. And now a renewed Ebola outbreak in neighboring Ituri Province has added another layer of fear and instability across the east.

Philemon’s death has made me realize with even greater urgency that survival alone is not enough. These children deserve a real home.