THE FOUNDERS’ STORY

With a lifelong love for helping children and a vision for making a difference in the lives of vulnerable families, Montréal native Cheryl Walker dreamed of working in African communities, giving tirelessly of herself for the good of others.

Lambert Laki-Laka grew up in Brazzaville, Congo and knew first-hand the suffering of many Congolese people. He was a leader among his family, and after obtaining an MBA in International Business in Montréal, Canada, he and Cheryl met, married and soon after started their family.

When Lambert got a job offer for a company in Congo in 2004, they hardly hesitated. They sold the house they had just built and moved to Pointe-Noire with their three young boys. They figured life is short and they didn't want to let fear stop them from making a difference.

Their initial move to Congo was a contrast between utter beauty and extreme poverty. With frequent sickness, isolation and one challenge after another, the family returned to Canada while Cheryl was pregnant with their fourth child.

Back in Canada, Cheryl and Lambert felt they couldn’t turn away from what they had seen. They felt a conviction that they could not live their lives in the comfort of Canada and turn their backs on the suffering of the Congolese. A renewed sense of calling was taking root.

The Laki-Laka's researched in depth the issues, needs and potential for involvement in the country. They met with government officials and obtained authorization letters from them to function as a charity organization. With a renewed sense of purpose and direction, they gathered a board of directors in both Canada and Congo and became a registered nonprofit.

While living in Pointe-Noire, Congo serving individual families and partnering with shelters for street children, the Laki-Laka’s learned more of the grim realities of abandoned children and babies in the city. The organization's areas of focus responsively narrowed to concentrate primarily on orphaned children and vulnerable women in an orphan-prevention model. In June 2014, Mwana Villages opened its first Mwana Refuge. Since that time, Mwana Villages has built a robust and diverse team of Congolese nationals that are deeply integrated into the local community, alongside international advocates, to represent nationally and internationally a model of holistic, ethical orphan care.

MWANA’S BEGINNINGS

Mwana Villages is the story of a simple hope turned to action: helping one child at a time. "Mwana" is the Congolese word for "child," and the commitment to see the beauty and dignity of every life, particularly the lives of the orphaned and vulnerable, is what has both driven and shaped the organization it is today.

2010    Following a research trip to Congo to discern areas of most significant need, co-Founders Cheryl (Canadian) and Lambert (Congolese) Laki-Laka along with a small team of board members formed Canada-based nonprofit Mwana Villages. Mwana partnered with local pastor to build Siloé shelter for street children.

2012    Laki-Laka family returned to Congo with their six children as self-supported missionaries. Mwana Villages began supporting holistically marginalized and vulnerable families in the community.

2014   Opening of Mwana Refuge for abandoned, orphaned and vulnerable children. Hiring of full Congolese staff as caregivers, house manager and community liaison.

2015    Mwana registers as a U.S. nonprofit; Mwana engages in groundbreaking discussions with governmental and judicial representatives in Congo to address systemic fraud, child trafficking, and to present best practices for high-standards ethical holistic orphan care.

2018 Mwana opens a second Mwana Refuge in Nkayi, Congo. The refuge is a foster home that serves adolescents and young adults with disabilities.