Lubumbashi: Lukuni Street Children's Shelter in Disrepair

The dire state of the Lukuni children's shelter, located just 25 kilometers from Lubumbashi, paints a grim picture of neglect and abandonment in the Haut-Katanga province. A recent visit by the provincial minister for gender, family, and children revealed infrastructure in ruins: the food storage, classrooms, cinema hall, dormitory, supervisor's office, and secretariat are all dilapidated. These facilities have been victims of looting by former residents who were seeking reintegration into society, a desperate measure born from a lack of support.

Radio Okapi reports that the situation is exacerbated by a non-functional water pump, leaving the children without a reliable source of clean water. One young resident poignantly described the daily struggle: "With only one set of clothes, it can rain and you sleep with that same wet outfit, lice can infest you. If we could be assisted with clothes, slippers. Moreover, we lack drinking water. We suffer when eating food."

The children's pleas extend beyond basic necessities; they urgently require electricity to enable recreational activities and the rehabilitation of their classrooms. This shelter, once a symbol of the provincial government's 'zero homeless children' initiative that housed hundreds of vulnerable youth, now stands as a stark reminder of broken promises and systemic failure. The contrast between its past image of dignity and its current state of decay is a profound tragedy for the children who depend on it.

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With only one set of clothes, it can rain and you sleep with that same wet outfit, lice can infest you. If we could be assisted with clothes, slippers. Moreover, we lack drinking water. We suffer when eating food.