Our History

Some of the most important relationships are the result of lucky coincidences and providential decisions. After Liliane immigrated to the United States, she received support from a resettlement organization. Through that organization, a college student volunteer named Tiana was paired with Liliane to support her in navigating her new home. Around the same time, Jennifer and Tiana became friends.

After graduating from college, Tiana and Jenn were roommates with 4 other women in an intentional community in City Heights, just a few blocks from Liliane’s apartment. Part of the mission for the community included overnight childcare for Liliane while she completed her training and education.

Over the years, Liliane regularly hosted gatherings and meals, sharing her culture and food. Her home was a gathering place of fertile ground for relationships that have lasted for decades since.

A friendship that began when neither of them spoke the same language was created in the most human of ways: sharing food, laughing together, telling stories, being present with each other’s pain and joys. Even after Jenn moved back to the pacific northwest, their friendship continued with phone calls and visits.

It was during a visit in summer 2023 that the idea for this foundation and the children’s home was born. Check out our Mission section for more.

 

Liliane Tunda

Born in Burundi and raised in Kinshasa, Liliane spent her childhood and early adulthood in DRCongo. She earned a degree in Business from the University of Kinshasa (ISTEM) in 1991. After the civil war in 1997, Liliane came to the United States with her four children as refugees.

During more than two decades in the US, Liliane gained extensive experience in child development. Starting in 2003, Liliane worked in child development programs that served immigrants and refugees, and in 2007 began working in several child care centers that served low-income families. She received her Associates Degree in Child Development in 2019.

Liliane has family and friends who still live and work in DRC, many of whom have worked in government or have other connections that may be useful in supporting Liliane to navigate local processes and the development of the children’s home. 

Liliane has a demonstrated ability to identify and respond to the unique needs of children who have experienced trauma, and develop creative interventions to support them. She has decades of experience navigating multi-cultural environments, creating and managing learning spaces for children, and understands the social, emotional, and physical needs of children from difficult backgrounds. Liliane speaks five languages fluently, and has deep connections within Congo and many surrounding countries.

Jennifer Tracy

In a career spanning two decades, Jennifer brings her background in nonprofit leadership, group facilitation, communications, project management, program implementation and evaluation, administrative policy advocacy, research methodology, equity and anti-racism practices, and data analysis to create strategic objectives that challenge and support partners in their vision and goals.

Jennifer has a demonstrated track record in leading nonprofit operations and development, creating fundraising plans, and facilitating collaborative relationships between nonprofit organizations, business, and government agencies to identify and achieve shared goals. 

Using her talents in planning, organization, and communication, Jennifer supports organizations to develop clear pathways to move projects forward, with flexibility to adjust as new insights and needs are identified. 

Jennifer currently runs her own nonprofit consulting firm focused on collective impact models for organizing advocacy and developing projects. She previously served as the Executive Director of the San Diego Hunger Coalition (SDHC) and worked as a Program Manager at Catholic Charities. 

 

Our Support Team 

Joie Samba
Liliane’s eldest son has a background in social media and marketing. Currently working on a degree in business, Joie is supporting the vision of the foundation in a volunteer capacity. Joie spends his free time enjoying the outdoors and being inspired as an entrepreneur. 

Marcel Samba
Liliane’s youngest son has a background in music, business and creative design. Marcel is pursuing a degree in architecture. Marcel also loves creative outlets like singing and music production.  

 

Our mission is to cultivate and provide the necessary resources to develop healthy children, create strong families, and build engaged communities in sub-Saharan Africa. We do this by raising funds to provide for physical, educational and emotional needs to transform lives.

 

Tunda Family Foundation was conceived in August 2023 when Liliane and Jennifer were talking about Liliane’s recent visit to her family in DRC. As Liliane considered the needs of the children she saw, and her interest in returning to her home country, she recognized the opportunity to bring together her experience in child development, her knowledge of the culture and nuances of the communities in DRC, and her network of supportive friends and loved ones all over the world. Liliane and Jennifer began meeting regularly to explore the vision, speak with others who have developed and run a children’s home in Sub-Saharan Africa, and start putting together the building blocks of the idea. Within weeks, Liliane reached out to her contacts in DRC to begin the process of establishing the organization within DRC, and Jennifer began the process of creating the US-based 501c3. 

 

Through these conversations, a vision and mission for the children’s home was formed. 

 

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has a population of more than 102 million people, with 45% of the population living in urban areas.(1) The country has arable land, immense biodiversity, and many natural resources that contribute to wealth production.(2) The DRC was ranked the third fastest growing economy in the continent of Africa.(3) 

However, according to the World Bank,(4) “Most people in DRC have not benefited from this wealth. A long history of conflict, political upheaval and instability, and authoritarian rule have led to a grave, ongoing humanitarian crisis. DRC is among the five poorest nations in the world.”

DRC families and children face significant challenges to health, safety, and education, especially as climate disasters worsen and exacerbate existing challenges. Millions of children have been orphaned and are left to fend for themselves, experiencing violence, hunger and abuse. According to the United Nations, violence against children has increased in 2023 as ethnic conflicts in Eastern Congo continue to 

However, the struggling children and families of the DRC want to have a better life. Parents want a chance to provide for and protect their children. Children want education, safety, and the opportunity to thrive. 

Interventions such as housing, training programs, therapy, and nutrition have demonstrated success. These interventions support children to have hope, heal from their traumatic experience, and learn skills that can help them obtain jobs that will sustain them as adults. 

Liliane has an extensive network of family and relatives in DRCongo, and as it is her home country, she is family with the cultures, languages, and needs of the community. Combining her personal experience with the professional training and experience she has developed in the US, Liliane is uniquely positioned to lead the development of this project in DRCongo. 

References

1. https://population.un.org/wpp/
2. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/drc/overview#:~:text=These%20features%20have%20not%20changed,in%20SSA%20lives%20in%20DRC. 
3. https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-investment-climate-statements/democratic-republic-of-the-congo/
4. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/drc/overview#:~:text=These%20features%20have%20not%20changed,in%20SSA%20lives%20in%20DRC.

 

2023-24:
Vision and Mission Developed (complete)
Develop website, social media, and initial capital campaign (in progress)
Establish US-based 501c3 Organization (in progress)
Establish children’s services program status in DRC (summer 2024)

2024-25
Visit DRC to identify land for purchase
Purchase land
Continue fundraising to build the home
Continue to grow network of supporters to meet fundraising goals

2025-27
Build the children’s home and school
Hire staff for the home and organizational support
Begin accepting and educating children
Continue fundraising for program expenses and training center

2027-29
Build the training center
Hire staff for programs
Begin training programs for parents and children
Continue fundraising for program expenses and other needs

Go to our GoFundMe page to donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/tunda-family-foundation-capital-campaign

Contact us by using our online form.