Shield for All Seasons is a nascent Faith Based Organization (FBO) created in February 2020 whose mission is to impact lives of the most vulnerable people with a focus on children and youth, boys, and girls.
After graduating from George Mason University, she worked in non-profit organizations where she gained invaluable experience leading teams and managing development and humanitarian projects. The USA gave her the opportunity to study and build a professional career so that she could give something back in return to children and youths in DRC and to other African immigrants, in particular the youths in the USA who are still navigating the American system and life in general. “As a Christian, I believe that we all have a purpose to impact lives around us. As a mother who wants a better future for her children, I feel compelled to make good use of the academic and professional knowledge gained to help those in need. We want to partner with others sharing the same mission to bring hope and make our society a better place.”
The sense of responsibility and accountability to make a difference in children’s lives inspired her to create the organization Shield for All Seasons. With more than 15 years of professional experience in development and humanitarian setting, she has considerable experience in managing grants with strong financial management and quality assurance skills that support data driven decision-making. She also brings a strong background in performance monitoring and compliance with donor regulations and in providing a solid operational platform that ensures effective management, oversight, and accountability with a focus on achieving project results.
In the United States of America (USA) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with the hope to expand around the world, Shield for All Seasons aims to be a Shield to vulnerable people with a focus on youths and children in order to give them a hope for a better tomorrow.
All human beings deserve to enjoy to the fullest their undeniable rights. A child deserves to learn, be protected, have access to health care; equally for an adolescent who deserves to foster in a condition where she/he is learning to become an active agent of change in a society. We want to bring contentment to children and youths in need.
Shield for All Seasons wants to be a Shield for the children and youths. In their journey of the development and apprenticeship, of preparing them to play an active role into the society, Shield wants to accompany children and youths. We create a space that provides learning opportunities, mentorship, coaching, counseling, training, and any necessary support that will contribute to their well-being; a place where they feel safe and appreciated. In the United States, Shield for All Seasons targets mostly African immigrants in particular children and adolescents (i.e. middle school, high school, college students) to ensure they have greater awareness of, access to programs, resources and services necessary to help them become part of the American society and give them hope to succeed in the society. Through their success they will be able and empowered to give back to their community in need.
Shield for All Seasons is also a place of fellowship. Shield for All Seasons fosters great values into the youths and inspires them to make a positive change for their life and for those around them.
We work with private, public organizations, civil society groups and individuals, beneficiaries and others interested in supporting our mission.
How can a country expect to thrive when quality education is inexistent? Shield for All Seasons aims to transform many lives of children and youths in DRC but also throughout Africa. DRC is a fragile state and has gone through lots of tumults and upheavals leaving the entire society hopeless. There are lots of challenges and issues that should be addressed. Society is hampered by persistent uncertainty due to a series of conflicts, economic instability, and slow pace of reforms. All this affects the entire society and puts the country in prolonged poverty. Those who are affected the most are children and youths.
Quality education has a stunning impact on children and youths. We want to unleash the unexpected potentials in them. Girls and boys have the right to study as they are all called to bring about change in the society. Shield for All Seasons is the companion that supports, mentors, and encourages them throughout their journey. We want to also bring vocational education to a wider group of individuals, especially to youths who were unable to complete their primary education due to instability, violence and other socio-economic reasons. Vocational education is not just useful at the individual level, it is also necessary for the economy of the country as it will help train more skilled individuals and create more jobs.
In a country where there is violence, we want to ensure that children and youths are learning in a safe and protective environment.
Collaboration and partnership are core values for Shield for all Seasons. We encourage effective participation of beneficiaries, community from the startup of the project for them to own the project, partake effectively in their own development and be agents of their own change and transformation.
Shield for All Seasons partners with local communities, private sector and other stakeholders at all levels and encourages volunteers who share our values and mission to tag along with us! In the conflict affected areas, Shield for All Seasons ensures that no child is left behind. By working with all stakeholders, parents, communities, all children are given access to quality education and to a safe environment.
We provide training to all our partners and beneficiaries to empower them in responding to children and adolescents’ wellbeing