Support the Lwamba Family's New Beginning

Hello, I am the director of HARRT, Helena Area Refugee Resettlement Team, a project of Hands On Global.

We in Helena, Montana, have recently welcomed a wonderful refugee family from the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo). They are the Lwamba family of 10: Grandmother, husband and wife, and 7 lovely children ranging from 17-2 years. Mama Lwamba is pregnant with her 8th child. These children are beautiful. The 7-year-old was hospitalized recently with seizures and high fever. Turns out he has residual malaria and faces a long regime of medications.

In 1999, they escaped the violence and civil war in the DRC, seeking refuge at the Nyarugusu refugee camp in Tanzania. They remained there for 25 years. All of their children were born in this camp.

This camp houses over 150,000 refugees. Residents of the camp are not permitted to leave. Imagine being confined to a camp for 25 years.

After so many years of waiting, the family was vetted and approved to migrate to the USA. They are on a full path to citizenship.

They are excited and overwhelmed starting this new life here in Montana. Everything is new and different. Papa Lwamba and the 17-year-old son taught themselves some English while at the camp and have conversational skills. Grandmother, Mama Lwamba, and the younger 6 kids only speak Swahili. This is just one of the challenges they face.

So many new experiences like the washing machine, the microwave, drinkable water from a faucet, and cooking on an electric stove (they used a clay and wood fire stove).

Due to their long stay in the camp and the lack of educational opportunities, they have minimal job skills. Papa Lwamba had wanted to be a teacher and had started his education before leaving the DRC. He is bright, thoughtful, and curious. He has just landed a job at a food service company. And here is the dilemma: He will not make enough money to support his family. They are housed in temporary housing costing $4000 per month, hopefully soon to be moved to a house costing $2500 plus utilities.

Grandmother is seeking a job and Mama Lwamba will work after her baby is born.

We are asking for assistance for this family until they can get on their feet. They are all willing to work hard.

Their lives were so disadvantaged in the camp. Now they have been given a chance in a new country. They are committed to meeting the challenges but really do need financial assistance to become productive, integrated members of American society.

The kids are in school and the parents are so happy to have their children get an education.

We at HARRT are honored to welcome this family into our community and will do all we can to make their integration a success. Please help us to help them!