A New Beginning for Little Furaha: From Abandonment to Hope at St. Kizito Orphanage
Furaha at St. Kizito, Bunia, DRC
On a November day in 2023, a baby girl named Furaha Katanabo came into the world under heartbreaking circumstances at the General Hospital of Bunia, in the conflict-torn Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo.Her name, Furaha—which means “joy” in Swahili—was a whisper of hope in an otherwise tragic beginning.
Born via emergency cesarean section, it was immediately clear to the hospital staff that Furaha had a congenital condition. She had an unusually large head, a likely indication of hydrocephalus (CK), a birth defect that would require long-term medical attention.
Furaha’s young mother, Ganisikale Françoise from the Basili collectivity, had been displaced by conflict and was living in extreme poverty. Weakened by lack of care and medical support, she succumbed to a hemorrhage shortly after giving birth. With no resources for a funeral, her body was left behind at the hospital, and her whereabouts—even her burial—remains unknown.
Furaha’s father, Katanabo, denied any responsibility for the pregnancy. His own elderly mother, displaced and struggling to survive, had no capacity to take the newborn in. With her mother gone, her father absent, and her grandmother untraceable, Furaha was left completely alone—just days old and still recovering from birth—abandoned in a hospital ward with no one to claim her.
On January 23rd, 2024, after nearly two months of uncertainty and vulnerability, Furaha was welcomed into St. Kizito Orphanage, a place built on love, dignity, and healing for children who have lost everything too soon. The orphanage, run by members of the church, offered the first safe haven Furaha had known.
Today, Furaha is safe—but she is still in urgent need of care. Her condition requires specialist medical attention, physiotherapy, and ongoing monitoring. She cannot yet hold her head up properly or move as other children her age do, but the staff at St. Kizito are determined to give her the best chance at a full and joyful life.
Furaha’s name was no accident. Despite all she has endured, she has already brought joy to those who care for her. Her quiet resilience reminds us of the fragile power of hope, and of the many children like her who deserve to be seen, supported, and loved. At St. Kizito, we believe that no child is too broken to heal, and no beginning too dark to lead to light.
Furaha’s story is just beginning—and you can be part of it. By supporting her care, you help provide the treatment, therapy, and love she needs to grow strong. You also give hope to the many other children like her, waiting for someone to see them, care for them, and believe in them.
Every act of compassion writes a new chapter. Will you help write Furaha’s?
Donate HERE or share her story with your community!
With joy and gratitude,
The Congo Kids Initiative Team