LET’S GET GOING!
OUTREACH & PROGRAMS
Meeting physical and spiritual needs through outreach and long-term programs that will change lives now and forever.
100% of funds given to LaOlam for a specific outreach or program will be spent entirely on the needs of that outreach or program.
Teaching, Discipleship & Mentoring
This is our passion, helping people grow in their faith and in all manner of their lives. In this season of serving in neighboring Burundi due to the ongoing conflict in eastern portion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the LORD has brought us together to work with some amazing local people. A good number of these people are 20 to 40 year-olds who are eager to serve the LORD and their community.
Teaching - In the DRC, Michael was teaching the Bible in schools, a Bible school, and churches. In Burundi, we’re beginning to gather traction and Michael has been able to use the Jesus Video to teach at various venues, and the door is open to many other opportunities. An unexpected, but wonderful development is that Michael has been able to facilitate several Love and Logic five-week parenting courses, and several more opportunities are in the works.
Discipleship and Mentoring - We take “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” seriously, and the young people of Burundi are desperately longing to mature in their faith. Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world, and the young people are looking to the LORD to not only get through their difficult circumstances, but to know the LORD more fully and to make Him known. Through expositional Bible studies, topical teachings, heart to heart conversations, good ol’ times of loving one another, and serving the community around us, we are seeing lives being changed in Burundi.
Funding is needed for: English Bibles and Kirundi Bibles.
Orphan Care - DRC
For years, LaOlam has helped care for the needs of the children at a home for orphans in the DRC. Every child has an opportunity to attend school and those older kids who are unable to complete school are engaged in job skill training opportunities. We also now have five “kids” attending university!
Funding is needed for: Food, clothing, medical, education (see below), bedding, household items, caregivers, etc.
Next Step Programs
The Next Step Programs were established for older boys to live in a home of a local family. Living in these homes, the boys have the opportunity to see and experience a healthy family environment, the interactions of a husband and wife as well as of parents with their children. These young men are discipled, mentored, and trained toward independence.
These young men are also encouraged to continue their education toward graduation or enroll in a local job skills training program. Three of the boys have already moved through the program and onto university, and many have completed the job skills training programs.
The Next Step Programs are directly overseen by LaOlam Africa.
Funding is needed for: Food, clothing, medical, education/training, bedding, household items, caregivers, etc.
Education Programs
LaOlam provides for school and job skill training fees of many children in poor rural areas in both the DRC and Burundi. Job skill training has included sewing, woodworking, auto mechanics, and solar installation.
LaOlam has helped develop a Job Skill Training Center in the DRC and we are currently helping to develop one in Bujumbura, Burundi.
Funding is needed for: School and training fees, and funds to continue to develop the Job Skill Training Center.
Vulnerable Women Program
LaOlam assists a local ministry in Bujumbura, Burundi in providing a six-month job skill training program for vulnerable women living on the streets with their children. The women are trained to be seamstresses, and the program also provides training in the areas of running a small business, parenting, basic health care, and general life skills. The woman also receive professional trauma counseling.
The women are also introduced to the Gospel throughout the training period. Michael and his partner Charles have been able to show and teach from the Jesus Film to the ladies of each program.
Soon, hair salon skills will also be available as a training option for this program.
Funding is needed for: Trainers, rent for the facility, and sewing machines. Many local people donate their time and skills to make this ministry a reality.
Health Education Program - Clean Water
In our region, unsafe water is the leading cause of most ailments and death. For many years, LaOlam has been blessed with the help of a group of women who have supplied us with Sawyer Gravity Water Filtration Systems. With the addition of two buckets per system, we can provide safe water to the people of this region. Local volunteers help us to set up and train villagers how to use and care for these filter systems. The cost of the buckets can vary, but they are about $5 per bucket.
Funding is needed for: Buckets.
Health Education Program - Feminine Hygiene Education and Kits
The cost of disposable feminine hygiene products in rural communities is so high that a single pad is used for several days at a time, resulting in serious, if not life threating health issues.
A local Congolese physician and nurse are working with us to bring awareness to girls and young women through the education of proper and safe feminine hygiene. Over 250 washable/reusable feminine hygiene cloth pads have been distributed.
We have acquired the patterns to make washable/reusable feminine hygiene cloth pads, but we’re waiting for the current conflict to de-escalate so we can acquire the needed materials. Once the materials are acquired, these cloth pads can be locally made.
Funding is needed for: Health education trainers and materials.
Homes for Street Kids & Abandoned Children
Using our background working at a group home for boys, the LORD has led us to come alongside of Burundians who have taken in and care for vulnerable children.
One home is managed by a couple who have around 35 boys who formerly lived on the streets, but who now live as a LARGE family with an adult caregivers. Most of these boys are currently back in school, but there is a need to develop a job training program (carpentry and auto mechanics) for some of the older boys.
LaOlam is also working with a woman who runs four homes for abandoned children. One of the homes is for babies and toddlers ages 0 to 4 years old, and the other homes are for kids aged 5 and above.
For all of these homes, LaOlam provides two counselors, both of whom are specifically trained to help these kids deal their traumatic backgrounds. The counselors meet with the kids as a group, and with individual kids as needed. The counselors also provide training to the caregivers.
Funding is needed for: Food, clothing, medical, education, bedding, household items, rent, caregivers, and counselors.
Street Kid Program - Burundi
Every Saturday, another local ministry opens its doors as a refuge for about 120 local street kids for a morning of food, fun, and the Gospel. The morning begins with a large cup of porridge and some bread, then things ramp up with games, singing, and Bible instruction. All of this is led by a group of young adults who donate their time and energy to sow into the lives of these kids.
We are hoping to expand this program to three days a week as funding becomes available.
Funding is needed for: The monthly rent of the facility and for the food that is served.
Refugee Care - Burundi
Where we serve in the Eastern DRC has become an area of armed conflict for a long, long time, therefore we are not able to get back to the DRC. We are currently serving in the neighboring country of Burundi where tens of thousands of Congolese have escaped to as refugees. One of these refugees, now in Burundi, was our co-worker in the DRC and we are working closely with him to identify and help meet the needs of many of these refugees.
Funding is needed for: Food, clothing, bedding, and basic household items.