Visit to an orphanage
Report of the visit to the association "Les Enfants de Marie" on December 10, 2025
Purpose of the Visit and Presentation of the Association
The purpose of the visit was to gain a better understanding of the activities of the association Les Enfants de Marie (Children of Mary), to discuss their current needs, and to explore potential avenues for collaboration or support.
The association Les Enfants de Marie belongs to the Congregation of the Missionary Apostolic Sisters of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It primarily cares for abandoned children or those in highly vulnerable situations. It works to protect them, reintegrate them into society, and improve their living conditions. It currently cares for 60 children, the youngest of whom is 2 years old, and houses them in temporary homes in the Nkozoa and Essos neighborhoods.
a. Care for Abandoned Children
The association takes in abandoned or neglected children. It provides them with shelter, safety, and daily support.
b. Schooling and Training
Special emphasis is placed on education. The association:
● enrolls children in school,
● supports them throughout their schooling,
● helps them access vocational training,
● guides them to facilitate their integration into the workforce and help them find employment.
c. Needs and Challenges Encountered
The staff highlighted several urgent needs:
● Lack of food to meet the children’s daily needs.
● Need for clothing, shoes, and mattresses.
● Lack of school supplies; school fees are difficult to cover.
● Issuance of birth certificates because the previous helper has passed away / National Identity Cards for children of age.
It is important to note that none of these expenses are subsidized, which makes the association’s operations particularly burdensome and precarious.
d. Ongoing Projects
● A trip planned for January for two young sisters from the community to Brazil to learn trades such as sewing… to fund the association in Cameroon.
● Driver training for a young teenager from this association, but he wishes to continue his studies in electrical engineering because that is what he enjoys most.
