During the 2024 campaign, our third of its kind, we traveled to Côte d’Ivoire, where Bright Future visited the center for disabled and visually impaired individuals in Timodi. This center hosts an average of fifty children, most of whom are blind. It is managed by individuals who are also blind but have expertise in Braille writing.
We met enthusiastic young people who are confident and not at all hindered by their disability. Their warm welcome left a deep impression on us. On this occasion, we brought donations collected in the West, as well as contributions from our brothers and sisters in Abidjan, who work with us as part of Bright Future.
While there, we discovered a Braille writing machine, which is essential for their learning. The center expressed the need for another machine to allow more young people to practice and improve their Braille writing skills. We hope to be able to meet this need as much as possible.
Additionally, the children also need sound balls, which they use to play football. These balls, equipped with bells or a sound mechanism, enable them to play by orienting themselves through sound.
Here are some photos from our first visit to this center.
In January 2024, Bright Future traveled to Yaoundé, where we brought together five orphanages at the Regional Museum of the Center, a space generously provided by a partner organization. Instead of visiting each orphanage separately, we chose to gather all five in one place, allowing us to host approximately 120 children.
This initiative was not only a way to optimize our time but, more importantly, an opportunity to celebrate the children. On this occasion, they performed music themselves and showcased their many talents. To support them, we collaborated with Akanga Art, a local organization specializing in youth music training. It was a truly enriching and memorable experience.
After sharing a meal together, we distributed the donations we had collected. Many of these came from the West, while others were purchased locally in the markets for the occasion. We also donated a machine that enables the children to cut bamboo and create their own jewelry, fostering their creativity and independence.
Here are some pictures from our 2024 visit to Yaoundé. It is worth noting that we have been organizing this initiative annually since 2019. Each year, we select a different country and city in Africa to carry out this type of activity, with the main goal of empowering and restoring confidence in young people.
Eljireh, led by Mrs. Mbomba in Nkok, a few kilometers from Libreville, Gabon, was our first stop in the 2025 orphanage visit campaign conducted by Bright Future. This visit was an unforgettable experience, marked by the warm welcome of a dedicated staff who, with limited resources, care for about 70 children. Among them, the youngest is just 7 months old, having been taken in at the age of 4 months after being abandoned by his mother in a taxi.
The children live within the orphanage, and we brought what we could to support them. Thanks to the generosity of Dansk Outlet, a clothing store based in Denmark that supports us in this mission, we were able to provide clothing. We also purchased food, soap, and various other essential items for their well-being.
The orphanage operates within Mrs. Mbomba’s own home, which she has opened to orphans, providing them with shelter and a nurturing environment. To move towards self-sufficiency, they expressed the need to develop a small plantation, purchasing and replanting palm and banana shoots, an initiative that could become a source of income for them.
As much as possible, we have promised to return and explore ways to support them in this endeavor.
The second visit of Bright Future in Gabon took place at Essassa Orphanage, where we met Mrs. Darly, the director. She shared with us the many challenges the orphanage faces. The children live in a small house, which is too cramped to accommodate them all comfortably, but they manage despite the difficulties.
Wanting to help them become more self-sufficient and not rely solely on donations, we asked Mrs. Darly what their most urgent needs were. She explained that her main skill, which she also teaches to the children, is decoration. Occasionally, she receives contracts to decorate traditional weddings, an activity she passes on to the young residents, allowing them to develop a sense of independence.
During our visit, we delivered bags of clothing donated in Denmark and food purchased locally in Libreville. Before leaving, the Bright Future team prayed with the children, sharing a moment of solidarity and hope.
Le Bon Samaritain, located in the Kingélé district, a well-known ghetto in Libreville, was the third stop of Bright Future’s 2025 campaign in Gabon. We discovered a vibrant place where the children, despite their challenges, radiated joy and enthusiasm.
The orphanage is home to 54 children living in a small house. The caretakers, including a widow who had recently remarried, warmly welcomed us and shared their daily struggles. The main living room serves as a dormitory at night for the young girls and smaller children. Meanwhile, the older boys, many of whom were once street children or had troubled pasts, are housed in a makeshift shelter nearby.
Our visit was filled with happiness and gratitude. The children were overjoyed to receive the clothing donated by Dansk Outlet, as well as those purchased thanks to the generosity of our mothers and sisters in Libreville. Aware of their need for chairs, since they often have to hold meetings outside, we brought them new chairs.
Additionally, we learned about a hair salon project, introduced by young girls eager to start their own business. After discussing their plans, we decided to provide the necessary funds for them to purchase equipment and begin their journey in hairdressing, paving the way for their financial independence.
The Bellevue Orphanage, founded by Father Jean-Pierre Kapena in one of Libreville’s underprivileged neighborhoods, was the final stop of Bright Futures’ 2025 campaign in Gabon.
We arrived at a place that is home to around 55 children, including both able-bodied children and those in wheelchairs. Among them, we met a young orphan with disabilities who had been struck by a vehicle and now remains bedridden, relying entirely on the staff for support in challenging conditions. Despite these hardships, the orphanage receives some assistance from external organizations, as the caretakers explained to us.
One key supporter is the Chambrier Clinic in Libreville, which frequently provides medical aid to the children. We gathered around the young boy in need, prayed for him, and left a financial contribution to help cover essential medications.
Understanding the importance of self-sufficiency, we encouraged the orphanage to develop a project that could help them become less reliant on donations. In our vehicles, we had brought food, clothing, and most importantly, love to share with them.
We spent quality time talking, laughing, and connecting with the children. Before leaving, we joined together for a final prayer, marking the end of this meaningful visit.
Maman Victorine, the mother of Arlette, a member of Bright Future , was deeply moved when she learned about the needs of the Kingele orphanage, particularly the lack of a television and mattresses. She immediately decided to donate her own television to Bright Futures and purchase several mattresses to give to the children.
Wanting to offer her support in a tangible way, she insisted on accompanying us during the donation delivery. This was our second visit to the orphanage, and the moment was marked by immense joy and deep love, which she herself felt. Touched by this experience, she promised to return to the orphanage to provide more mattresses.
During this mission, we also met Henri, Maman Victorine’s grandson. Initially, he had come along simply to accompany us, but inspired by the cause, he decided to fund the pastry training of a young orphan from Kingele. Arlette, moved by his gesture, followed her nephew’s example and took responsibility for funding the training of a second young person.
This visit to Gabon revealed unexpected vocations and allowed us to feel a divine presence throughout the journey. Maman Victorine’s spontaneous commitment is a living testimony to the unpredictability and magic that unfold when one engages on the ground to bring good to others.
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