MHEED – Maison d’Hébergement d’Éducation des Enfants en Difficulté
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Direct beneficiaries
54 children accommodated and supported in 2025
Local partner
MHEED – Maison d’Hébergement, d’Éducation des Enfants en Difficulté
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The Maison d’Hébergement et d’Éducation des Enfants en Difficulté (MHEED) supports street-connected children and vulnerable young people in Kinshasa. It offers them a safe environment and comprehensive support, from meeting their essential needs through to their reintegration into family, school, society or work.
The project aims to make lasting improvements to the protection, resilience and care of street-connected children and vulnerable young people.
The objective is to enable them to rebuild their lives and prepare for their future through support adapted to their individual path. This includes in particular their reintegration into their family where possible, their return to school, their access to vocational training and, for the older ones, their progression towards independence.
Objectives
The support provided by MHEED covers several complementary dimensions:
Protection and essential needs: accommodation in a safe environment, food, healthcare and psychosocial support.
Education: enrolling or re-enrolling children in school, at MHEED or in partner schools.
Vocational training: learning a trade and training courses enabling young people to develop their skills and prepare for entering the workforce.
Psychosocial support: individual support aimed in particular at strengthening self-esteem, confidence and the ability to manage emotions.
Family reintegration: tracing and re-establishing contact with families, mediation, preparation for reunification and follow-up after the child’s return.
Support for families: support for certain families, notably through income-generating activities, in order to strengthen their self-reliance.
Community action: raising awareness of child protection and children’s rights, as well as health, hygiene, nutrition and the prevention of violence and abuse.
Activities
In 2025, 54 children, including 34 boys and 20 girls, were accommodated and supported by MHEED. Of the children accommodated, 25 were enrolled or re-enrolled in school.
During the year, 21 children were successfully reintegrated into their families. In total, 31 children and young people were sustainably reintegrated into a family or became independent.
The project also helps young people into work. In 2025, 10 vulnerable young people trained in a trade or in entrepreneurship found paid employment or set up their own business.