Raise Your Helping Hand
Kemi’s Friends is a 501(c)(3) family-run charity dedicated to providing resources to underserved communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
About Us
Our Story
In 2011, Kemi’s Friends was founded by the three Tela siblings: Wabi, Kahwit, and Kemi. After a trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the siblings were alarmed by the conditions many Congolese children faced. Many young children, known as “Shegues” (pronounced Shay-gay), were abandoned during times of political and economic instability, and live on the streets of the DRC as orphans. Having been exposed to the harsh reality for too many youths, the siblings were determined to educate themselves on the Shegues situation in the DRC and began to look for ways to support and advocate for them. The siblings chose the name “Kemi” for the nonprofit, as “Kemi” means “God is taking care of me.” They wanted the name to transmit an important message to the Shegues: Despite their challenging life-circumstances, people care about them and want the best for them.
Projects: Past & Present
This drive to make a difference led the trio to establish Kemi’s Friends, a nonprofit organization that runs charity drives and educates others on the complex crises in Congo.
In 2011, Kemi’s Friends collected over 1,000lbs of clothing for the Shegues, many of whom only had the clothing on their backs. With the support of Catholic Charities in 2013, Kemi’s Friends was able to send the collected items to the DRC. In 2016, Kemi’s Friends collected over 150lbs of school supplies for children living in the village of Myunga.
For several years, the siblings have spoken to various student groups and churches about the forced labor of many Shegues in the mining of minerals such as Coltan used to power our everyday technology. Currently, the Tela siblings are pursuing a clean water initiative for the Ngweme village of the DRC.
How you can help
The Tela siblings were inspired by their grandmother who, in January of 2022, secured potable drinking water for Mongonzala, the village that she grew up in. This proved to be a bittersweet moment for the people of Ngweme who, while happy for the newfound access available to their neighbors in Mongonzala, still struggled with access to clean water themselves because of the distance between the two villages. The siblings were moved when hearing of the plight of the Ngweme people and now seek to make a difference in the community by constructing a well and water pumping system in the village.
Please consider donating to support our community-empowering work in the DRC. All donations are tax-deductible.
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Your contribution is sincerely appreciated.
Your contribution is sincerely appreciated.
Your contribution is sincerely appreciated.
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Contact Us
Please contact us at Kemisfriends@gmail.com or via social media for more information.