This year for #GivingTuesday, we’re sharing the stories of people in central Africa who help their neighbors in times of need.

Mama Courageous is one of those people.

As part of a network of host homes, Mama Courageous opens her home to children in her community in need of a safe and loving home, including children who have escaped Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Thanks to our supporters, Invisible Children is able to help Mama Courageous care for these children.

SUPPORT THOSE WHO CARE FOR CHILDREN RETURNING FROM LRA CAPTIVITY

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Mama Courageous is so named because she’s a pillar of courage and generosity in her community. She’s a fierce advocate for children and that’s exactly what inspired her to become a host to former LRA captives.

In her own words: “I am a mother myself and I want to help children escaping the LRA with their trauma. They have been tortured, beaten, humiliated, and sometimes even raped. I want to help restore their dignity. I want to give them maternal love and to help them feel understood so that they have hope and be happy after what they have been through.”

Mama Courageous and other host families play an important role in helping children successfully adjust to being home again. While providing for their physical needs, host families are also trained to recognize the signs of trauma and help children learn to cope with it before returning to everyday life with their families. Mama Courageous knows that it’s important for the children in her care to feel safe and loved, which is why she treats each one of them with warmth, compassion, and patience.

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Mama Courageous with her own children, who become fast friends with the children who stay with them in their home.

Since Mama Courageous first joined our host home network in April, she has already cared for 15 children in need of a loving home. With your help, we can continue to provide generous and brave people like her with everything they need to continue caring for children in their communities.

MAKE A #GIVINGTUESDAY DONATION TODAY