Our Story · Since 2010
The Story of Hope For Kasai began with a visit to mpiana ntita, a community invisible to the world but visible to those who chose to listen. A small act of faith became a challenge fueled by hope, one that, 15 years later, continues to change lives.
How It Began
In 2011, Ani arrived in Kasai Oriental, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, for the first time and visited the small village of Mpiana Ntita. What she found marked a before and after… A community without access to clean water, electricity, or healthcare, where less than 10% of children had access to education.
When people questioned why focus on Africa when Latin America faces so many needs, Ani always had a clear answer: In Kasai, the level of need is absolute—and yet, they still smile.
That conviction led her to join forces with Father Theodore Kanyiki Ilunga, a native of the region who believed that hope always finds a way. Together, they founded Hope for Kasai.
An organization built on the belief that true change is possible—that a forgotten community can flourish, and that a childhood without opportunities can be transformed. That is how Hope for Kasai began—a name that carries both a mission and a promise for the people of Mpiana Ntita.
Every step we've taken, every milestone has been the foundation for the next, driven by the trust placed in the foundation over the years.
First visit: 450 children. The beginning of a promise. Ani visits Mpiana Ntita for the first time, a community that changed her life forever.
A maternity ward built from the ground up. Reduction of infant mortality rate from 89% to zero losses. First healthcare center in the area.
4,353 safe births to date
Water reserve located 8 miles from the town of Mpiana Ntita. Access to clean drinking water. Elimination of digestive and skin diseases.
A sewing workshop dedicated to young female students in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade who receive training to become seamstresses and acquire a sustainable income.
350+ girls in training 17 girls currently enrolled
For the first time, cleats, balls, and football uniforms donated by students from Miami arrive in Kasai. Joy, sport, and health as part of the holistic growth of the children of Kasai.
The first Catholic church in Mpiana Ntita opens its doors. A gathering space and prayer center for 3,000 residents of the region, who have the opportunity to attend daily Mass and receive the sacraments.
The G.O.A.T. Education Project provides families in Mpiana Ntita with goats as a sustainable source of income, helping support children's education and create pathways toward a brighter future. 27 goats delivered by Belen Jesuit students are helping families build sustainable income and support their children's education — an impact that keeps on giving, generation after generation.
Any Rincón · Founder of Hope for Kasai
Our programs are born from the needs of the community, and we support their vision.
15 years of sustained presence in the region. We build lasting relationships based on trust and respect.
Kasai's programs are led by people from the region who live there and know its needs better than anyone.
Every dollar donated goes directly to Kasai's programs. Donations reach in their entirety those who need it most.
In Kasai, every contribution becomes education, health, and hope. There are no small donations. Every single one builds the future of a community that has been growing with our support for 15 years.
