~1~

INTRODUCTION

Before any development on this professional experience, it

It seems appropriate to express a few words of gratitude to those who have been there for us.
indispensable: the internship supervisor Mr. Germain LONGELE as well as to
employees of the Kimbondo Pediatric Foundation (FPK), for their advice during
the few weeks spent together.

We extend our thanks to all our fellow interns with

we spent good moments of learning and reconciling theories
to practice.

Particularly interested in the issues related to care management

children in difficult situations are faced with, we have strongly wished to make
our end-of-studies internship in a child protection social institution.
Doing the internship in an orphanage allowed us to observe the situations of
Child protection.

From October 1 to November 6, 2020, we completed an internship within the

Pediatric Foundation of Kinshasa. During this internship, in the department of
the orphanage, we were able to work on the psychosocial support of young people
girls.

More broadly, this internship has been an opportunity for us to grasp in the
practice, the way in which children in difficult situations are taken care of,
given the mutations of vulnerability cases that affect children and the
multiplicity of actors working in the sector.

FIRST GAME

PRESENTATION OF THE KIMBONDO PEDIATRIC FOUNDATION

1.1. History

The structure of the FPK is a reception house, where are hosted in

orphanage for abandoned, lost, or temporarily alone children. Located in Kinshasa at
village Kimbondo, in parcel n°6661, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Kimbondo Pediatric Foundation (FPK) was created in 1989 by Dr. Laura
Perna, Italian physician and university professor, and by Father Hugo Rios of the
Community of Claretian Missionaries.
 ~2~

The statutes were signed on June 26, 2001, and the FPK is recognized by the
Ministerial decree no. 128/CAB/MIN/D & GS/2002 of June 22, 2002. The Director
General is the Reverend Father Hugo Rios Diaz, Claretian Missionary, of nationality
Chilean.

The foundation is managed by a board of directors chaired by

Mr. Bishop of Kisantu. The projected budget of the foundation has been prepared.
annually and approved by the board of directors.

Human resources: 1 manager, 13 social educators or

supervisors plus 4 specialized educators, mothers who are house mistresses,
nurses in two pavilions for Casa Patrick (which is home to children living
with disabilities) and Neonatology (children from 0 to 5 years), night watchmen,
cooks, administrative staff.

1.1. Statutes and creation of the structure

The Articles of Incorporation were signed on June 26, 2001 by the two founders:

Madam PERNA Laura, Doctor of Medicine, of Italian nationality;

And the Reverend Father Rios DIAZ Hugo, Claretian Missionary of nationality
Chilean.

The Foundation's purpose is to voluntarily welcome all children.

sick, abandoned, orphaned, lacking means to get treatment in order to
to provide them with medical and socio-cultural assistance: its goal is development
medico-social of the human being.

As of today, it is necessary to add a complementary item, which the taking in

educational responsibility for children. If this idea has not been specified in the articles of association, it is
nevertheless taken into account in the current reality.

1.1.2. Company cultures

Respect and protection of life were the foundation of the

Pediatrics in 1989. It has always responded to the needs of the country, while respecting the
culture and the Congolese reality. Even today, the values that must guide
the actions of professionals are:

The love of God, the love of children, the love of all men, in
particularly the most disadvantaged and the most vulnerable;
 ~3~

The right to life, health, education, and instruction;

The respect for children's rights;
Kindness and good treatment;
Respect for diversity: to live it and show it, it is enough to take in
the arms of a sick child, a malformed baby, a young person with a disability
physical or mental;
Community life resembling a village, the sense of belonging and
integration into the community;
Mutual aid and solidarity with all members of the community;
The active and decision-making participation of the child in community life;
The respect for the tradition and history of each child and their family,
their context, without ever judging the people, their actions, and their lives.

1.1.3. Legal and regulatory foundations

The reference documents in the field of care

vulnerable children are:

The guide for service providers for children in difficult situations;

The International Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC, UN 1989;
The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child;
Law No. 004/2001 of July 20, 2001, containing general provisions applicable
to Non-Profit Associations (NPA) and establishments of public utility
public
Law No. 09/001 of January 10, 2009 on the protection of the child (LPE);
The Family Code;
The guidelines of the MINAS (Ministry of Social Affairs);
The document on Standards and Guidelines for the care of vulnerable children
in the DRC.

1.1.4. Accreditation and funding

Habilitation
The reception structure of the FPK carries out a social and medical activity,
social and educational. Its missions are defined in the Standards and Guidelines for taking
in charge of vulnerable children in the DRC. He recalls in the first chapter the
rights and fundamental needs of vulnerable children and states in the second,
standards and norms of child protection services in difficult situations.
2. Financing
The funding is provided by:
 ~4~

Equity of the FPK.

Through donations and grants from charitable associations including:
Hub for Kimbondo, federation of Italian associations;
Kimbondo E.V. German association 'Help for Children and Youth'
in the Congo
Caritas Alsace, French association;
REEJER network of educators for street children and youth RD
Congolese.
A projected budget is prepared every year and submitted to the Council.
of Administration.
1.2. Infrastructures

Presentation of the foundation's buildings

In terms of infrastructure, the FPK has a hospital and 8 buildings that

grouping children by age brackets (0 to 5 years, 6 to 13 years, 14 to 30
However, children living with physical and/or mental disabilities are all
grouped in a single building. Each building has several dormitories, a lounge,
a kitchen (for young girls) and sanitary facilities. The FPK has a
very spacious courtyard for children's recreation and relaxation
Presentation of the orphanage houses.
Neonatology (house of little ones)
This house accommodates 111 children aged 0 to 5 years old, including
the oldest attend preschool.
2. House Laura
The Laura house is located outside the FPK site, about 2 or 3 minutes away.
of the Pediatric walk. 23 young adolescents aged 16 to 20 years, enrolled in a cycle
secondary (CO and Humanities) live there. The house is large; the premises that
the young have: 1 dining hall and 2 dormitories, one of which also serves as a study room
and television, toilets and showers. The other rooms of the house serve as premises
for storage as well as for a lawyer's apartment.
3. House Mom Betty
This house is also located outside the site, neighboring the
Laura house. 43 (+2 in training) girls aged 8 to 18/25 years are welcomed there.
4. Sister Paule's House (formerly Nzimbi)
 ~5~

It is the most remote house, about a 10-minute walk from the

Kimbondo Pediatric Foundation. 80 boys and girls aged 6 to 16/17 live there.
permanence.
The plot includes the girls' house and the boys' house.
The architecture of the 2 houses is identical; each includes 1 dining room, some
dormitories, a recreation room, 1 laundry, several rooms, toilets and showers, as well
that several storage rooms. 2 other small pavilions serve as a kitchen,
laundry room, and dining room for the nuns, all in a large park
shaded by trees: coconut trees, avocado trees, palm trees, mango trees.
4. Foyer of Peace
The 'Peace' Home is located on the very site of Pediatrics.
children between the ages of 5 and 11 live there. It has 2 dormitories and in one of the two dormitories.

1 sanitary space with showers and toilets;

Meals are served on a covered terrace. This terrace also serves as a room.
of activities and study room.

5. Boboto
It is a house located in the lowest part of the site.
Pediatrics; 42 boys aged 8 to 2 years live there.

The premises include: 1 cafeteria, 5 dormitories, 1 room for

the night educator, 1 small lingerie and laundry, the sanitary space. The green space is
on a slope.

6. Bondeko
The Bondeko house welcomes 22 young boys aged 10 to 25.
premises include: 1 small dining room, 4 small dormitories, 1 room for the educator
at night, and the sanitary space.
Annexes
The annexes host 5 independent young people living in different places of the
house, without framing. Four of them only come on weekends to the
Pediatrics due to university studies. They depend on the Laura house.
1.3. Staff Organization

The staff is categorized into 5 sectors:

Educational poles
Night Surveillance Center
 ~6~

Administration Center
Technical Services Center
Medical Center
1.3.1. Educational hub
It is made up of 13 social educators and three religious sisters responsible for
two houses (Mama Betty and Nzimbi).

1.3.2. Night surveillance

In each house, an educator provides night service. In 2 houses.
displaced from the site (Maman Betty and Nzimbi) one or two night watchmen ensure the
house surveillance outside.

1.3.3. Administration
This staff operates both at the hospital and at the orphanage:
The accountant.
2 people from the personnel department, who manage schedules, leave,
replacements, sanctions, personnel files...
11 people are responsible for reception and security. They welcome the
people who request the admission of a child and note the information
collected.
1.3.4. Technical services
Also contributes to the quality of the care of children by
their daily action. These staff members intervene for both the hospital and
the orphanage. The following functions can be distinguished:
The kitchen staff: 3 at Nzimbi, and 6 at Pediatrics, all work under
the responsibility of a mother;
The latter also ensures inventory management;
Maintenance and repairs are provided for the hospital and the orphanage by:
2 carpenters, who are also responsible for the training of young people,
the orphanage and from the outside;
1 sanitary installation;
1 mother responsible for the laundry;
2 drivers.
1.3.5. Medical Pole
 ~7~

This center provides health support for external individuals,

the staff of the facility and the children of the orphanage. Some of the children are
carriers of serious chronic diseases (HIV, sickle cell anemia, physical disabilities)
heavy, epilepsy...
Fundamental values and principles
The fundamental values and principles that support their actions
are based on work aimed at promoting the common good and that of
children; to defend human dignity and promote a participatory culture.
Protect children from all forms of abuse and violence

Physical (bodily injury)

Emotional or psychological (to belittle, humiliate, intimidate, harass,
ridicule and any other form of malice or rejection committed
Abandon and negligence (lack of attention, supervision or
appropriate guidance, lack of response to basic needs of
the child such as food, housing and the necessary conditions
to be able to live in complete safety
Sexual abuse (encouraging a child to participate in sexual activities). The
can be subject to sexual abuse by adults or
other children they trust, whom they depend on or with whom they
there is a power relationship.
Deliberate use or threat of use of force or power against a
child, which leads to or strongly risks causing trauma, a death,
moral damage, a developmental disorder or a deficiency.
In reference to the charter of the structure, the people to whom the policy
Child protection is directed; they must under no circumstances exhibit behavior
inappropriate and contrary to the principles outlined in the action panel that carries
harm to children's well-being. They must also know and respect the Law
N°09/001 of 10/01/2009 concerning the protection of the child and are required to report
the inappropriate behaviors they witness to the human resources management.

SECOND PART

INTERNSHIP COURSE
 ~8~

I. CARE FOR CHILDREN IN SITUATION

DIFFICULT AT THE FPK

I.1. Children’s accommodation.

The programs for the care and protection of the child that the
structure elaborates and applies, draw their inspiration from international instruments on
the protection of children is included in the country's laws on specific protection
the child. The FPK as a social institution is governed by the 2001 law concerning
general provisions applicable to non-profit associations and
public utility institutions. In accordance with Article 82 of the law relating to
child protection, these institutions assist the State in its mission of protection
children and promoting their rights.
The law of 1950 classified a child's vagrancy as an offense.
After the hearing with the judge, the children would return to their families or were
placed in private or public institutions. The new law, that of 2009,
consider the wandering of the child as a social fact, which deserves to be taken seriously
taken into account for its protection and care.
As a general rule, the FPK welcomes rejected and abandoned children.
exposed to neglect, vagrancy, and begging, the child who lacks, of
notorious and continuous way, of protection or does not attend any educational institution
you do not engage in any professional activity; the abused child; the exploited child
economically or sexually; the child accused of witchcraft; the mother child or
carrying a pregnancy, child living with a disability; the orphaned child. All aged
0 to 10 years and the shelters them until the age of 18, excluding the duration of sheltering in a
the center is set to a maximum of 6 months, except in exceptional cases. But this presence
extended to individuals over 18 years old, in the Center, suggests understanding the
difficulties surrounding the process of reintegration of children into society, after
their accommodation, due to a lack of social integration opportunities. However, whatever
whether the nature of the institution or placement location of the child in a difficult situation,
Social placement remains a temporary measure in accordance with the standards.
Currently, the FPK houses 500 children, girls and boys, whose ages range from 0 to
30 years for 20 providers of protection services for these children. The average
evaluated is a provider for 25 children, while the norm provides for 5 children per 1
provider.

2.2. Organization of support

The main supportive measures are:
 ~9~

Healthcare support: the Foundation has a health center.

reference whose services are also extended to the entire community
surrounding.
School support: Not having a school on its premises, all
school-aged children are enrolled in a school
away from the center of accommodation. However, young university students or those
in vocational training, must travel long distances to
join their training institutions.
Psychosocial support: social educators and supervisors
intervene with children through advice, moral talks and
educational, guided tours,…
Spiritual support: the center having a church, the children participate
Everyone to the masses. The challenge related to religion is that the structure does not allow for freedom.
choices for children, especially the young, in religion at the risk of being expelled,
while it is a right that belongs to them under the law.
In general, children's activities are more focused on leisure.
lack of initiation to self-learning culture. The initiatives of providers for the
lectures, debates, and cultural days lack execution by
fault of means. The main concern is to promote education in
citizen values, human values in order to become a conscious, responsible person
in relation to his family (FPK), his biological family, his society, and his nation (the
Democratic Republic of the Congo.
2.3. Proposed Activities

The Kimbondo Pediatric Foundation (FPK) presents a certain

number of activities for the children she hosts. Among which we mention: the
craft activities (carried out by the Nzimbi and Betty houses; artistic activities
(theater and singing) as well as sports activities (football match).
A. Craft activities.

Several activities are planned to be implemented:

Manufacturing of pouches in Congolese and European fabrics. The set objective is to
300 pouches;
Manufacture of rosaries and designs;
Keychain manufacturing.
B. Artistic activities

a. Theater
 ~ 10 ~

This activity plans to bring in an actor during the holidays.

to entertain the children with a play.

b. Chants
The children from each house (volunteers) are supervised for the
chants, by a Claretian brother, at the level of the chapel of the center

C. Sports activities

A football match is organized by the educators, responsible for

houses. The activity concerns young boys.
D. Psycho-social support activity

In accordance with its mission, goal, and vision, the FPK believes in human dignity.
children in difficult situations and their potentials, dehumanized by the
superstition, socio-economic degradation and the disengagement of the State
Congolese. That is why, as a public and social utility establishment, the
FPK advocates for the respect of children's rights, for the promotion of
integral sustainable development of children in difficult situations by providing them

according to and ensuring appropriate medico-psycho-social assistance

their need. This in order to make them (children) through processes
educational (equality, solidarity, active participation in the community), of
factors and actors of development in society.
In accordance with the educational project whose substance can be summarized

on comprehensive guidance (training in social and civic values, to

educational, university, and socio-professional training for better
empowerment for the reintegration of children in difficult situations in care
by the FPK in order to make these children true citizens.
 ~ 11 ~

CONCLUSION

At the end of our internship at the Pediatric Foundation

from Kimbondo, specifically in Mama Betty's house from October 15 to November 14
In 2020, we have the noble duty to present a report outlining the main points of
everything we have done.
The protection and care of children in shelters
remains a crucial question in the DRC. Given the erosion of social conditions, the
pauperization of urban and rural families, social conflicts and wars in
repetition in the country, thousands of children are victims of massive violations of
their most fundamental rights. They remain vulnerable and are left abandoned to
their sad fate.
Despite the care standards and the protection policy,
retentions in their favor by the State, social protection of children in difficult situations
resembles a domain abandoned by the latter. It is more the non-state actors who
are at the forefront of caring for children in difficult situations.
Today, the protection of vulnerable children in general and
The accommodation of children in centers, in particular, raises a number of
challenges that must be taken into account. Among others:
The involvement of the State as a major actor in the organization of social work
which struggles to consolidate in the DRC;
The allocation of human, financial, and material resources that are lacking for the
support for vulnerable children;
The organization of training for social professionals that remains less
supported by the State;
The prominent role that the State must play in the accommodation of children
vulnerable, in collaboration with non-state actors who should not
take one's place;
 ~ 12 ~

The construction of new accommodation centers to meet needs

urgent thousands of children living without protection.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC

- Caritas/Uvira (2009), Report on child soldiers in South Kivu, Uvira.

- FPK (2018), Activity report.
Furahisha, J. (2018), Uvira, now a confirmed city. Kinshasa, DRC.
- RDC/MINAS (2018a), Feasibility study to transform the centers of
social promotion in social promotion centers in action centers
social in order to increase their contribution to Social Protection, CFEF.
RDC/MINAS (2018b), Study on vulnerability in the Democratic Republic
from Congo, CFEF.
RDC/MINAS (2018c), Review of public spending on social protection in
Democratic Republic of the Congo, CFEF.
 ~ 13 ~

RDC/MINAS (2014), Standards and guidelines for the care of children

vulnerable in DRC, Study conducted with the support of the World Bank through
EDR Project.
-RDC/MINAS (2009), Law on the Protection of the Child.
REEJER (2019), Annual Report 2018.
REEJER (2010), Annual Report 2010.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................1
FIRST GAME: PRESENTATION OF THE PEDIATRIC FOUNDATION OF
KIMBONDO.2
1.1. History.2
1.1. Statutes and creation of the structure
1.1.2. Company Cultures.....................................................................................3
1.1.3. Legal and regulatory foundations...............................................................4
1.1.4. Licensing and funding...........................................................................5
1.2. Presentation houses of the orphanage Casa Patrick.....................................6
1.3. Organization of the staff..............................................................................9
Values and fundamental principles.................................................................12
1. Social engagement.............................................................................................12
2. Equity.................................................................................................................12
3. Respect
4. Non-discrimination
5. Transparency
 ~ 14 ~

6. Building a culture of positive care..........................................................13

7. Protect children against all forms of abuse and violence.....13
SECOND PART: STAGE PROGRESS.............................................15
2.2. Care for children in shelters..............................21
2.2.1. Child's trajectory in the shelter center.....................................21
2.2.2. Hosting children in difficult situations in Kinshasa.............................22
2.2.2.1. Specificity of children's issues in Kinshasa and intervention of the Network
of Educators for Street Children and Youth (REEJER)......................................22
Pole 1: Healthcare and street work.........................................................24
Pole 2: Transitional accommodation, emergency and training............................................24
Pole 3: Family, Community, and Participation of Children and Youth.......................25
Pole 4: Professional Reintegration and Employment
Pole 5: Participation of children
Pole 6: Communication, advocacy, and strategic monitoring.........................................27
2.2.2.2. Hosting of children in the Kimbondo Pediatric Foundation (FPK)

2.3. Activities proposed.........................................................................................31

A. Craft activities. (Commission Léa and Francesco)................................31
B. Artistic activities: Cultural activities commission..............................32
C. Sports activities.......................................................................................33
D. Sponsored activity: Concert.................................................................33
CONCLUSION
BIBLIOGRAPHIC...............................................................................................39
TABLE OF CONTENTS...........................................................................................40