In 2017, while working alongside refugees and asylum seekers with Wolverhampton City of Sanctuary I met Dr Charles Gimba, his wife Niclette and their 3-year old daughter Elliah. The family, now complete with son Rehoboth, are refugees from the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Between 8 and 10 million people died in the civil war which raged in DRC between 1997 and 2003. The war was fuelled by rival claims to the country's vast mineral wealth, and violence continues in some Central and Eastern states.
For Dr Charles and his family, the situation back home, particularly for orphans of the conflict, weighs heavily. They come from Kikwit, a city in the west of the country which in 2017 took in several thousand people fleeing massacres in the central Kasai province. In Kikwit, the very basic education available must be paid for, and children cannot attend school unless they can pay for a uniform. Writing materials, and any examinations taken all mean further expense. Education is the only hope for these children, and for their country, and the lack of any way of providing for their schooling inspired Dr Charles to name the charity he formed to support them 'Hope for the Hopeless'. The charity aims to fund schooling and higher education for as many children as possible, and to support women left widowed by the conflict.
It has been possible to support a few children with the funds Dr Charles has been able to raise so far, but it is difficult to attract support when we are all constantly surrounded by so many cries for help.
That is why I have chosen to support 'Hope for the Hopeless' in raising sponsorship for my forthcoming pilgrimage to Bardsey Island, off the coast of the Lleyn peninsula in Wales. I will be walking about 135 miles over a period of 2 weeks starting on April 5th. A theme of my walk is trusting in God and in the kindness of strangers, and I've been sourcing overnight accommodation for each stop with local people via their town's clergy.