At the beginning of 2018, a defining event marked a turning point. The head of the social affairs center, who regularly saw me visiting orphanages with my food basket, called me in and said: “From the commitment I see in you, you could run an orphanage. Open one.”

My first reaction was hesitation: “I don't have the means…”
But she confidently replied: “You have the skills. Think about it.”

Her words resonated deeply. Three months later, through a true miracle from God, Jesus Heart Orphanage officially opened its doors on June 5, 2018.

A Mission Rooted in Love and Faith

Since 2018, the orphanage operated under the registration of the EEDO association, before obtaining its official ministerial accreditation five years later. To date, nearly 400 children, girls and boys, have been welcomed into our organization.

We particularly support: orphans, children displaced by the war in the Northwest and Southwest (NOSO) regions, and children from families experiencing extreme hardship.

At Jesus Heart Orphanage, we provide comprehensive care, including accommodation, food, healthcare, clothing, schooling, and academic and spiritual education. We believe that feeding a child is essential. But restoring their heart, giving them back their dignity and identity, and renewing their hope are just as vital.

In 2014, by the grace of God, we founded the association EEDO – Espoir aux Enfants Démunis et Orphelins (Hope for Underprivileged and Orphaned Children) with a deep conviction: no child should grow up without love, support, or hope.

In our early days, like many organizations, we organized occasional initiatives:
🎄 A Christmas tree celebration to bring moments of joy,
🎒 School-supply distributions at the beginning of the school year,
🎁 Donations based on needs and seasonal circumstances.

But six months later, an essential question arose:
What happens to these children when we are not there?
How do they live between September and December? Who takes care of them every day?

This is how the concept of “Restaurant of Heart by EEDO” was born.

For four consecutive years, every Saturday, we served breakfast, lunch, and dinner in eight different orphanages. This regular presence allowed us to build deep relationships with the children and understand their realities, their actual needs, and their invisible wounds. Being with them every week transformed the way we helped: we were no longer simply giving donations; we were sharing in their lives.

We provide a comprehensive foundation for every child, nurturing their growth from safe home to self-reliant adulthood through six interconnected pillars of support.