Baraka Academy provides education and trauma care for orphaned children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Homeless orphaned children are integrated into safe local families. The Academy provides these foster families with micro-credit and income-generating skills to promote their financial independence.
Students attend Baraka Academy six days a week. All teachers are trained to effectively manage the students' trauma, and individual trauma interventions are implemented where necessary. Baraka Academy is achieving a reputation for academic excellence throughout the region: the school curriculum is rigorous, and includes literacy programs in English, French and Swahili. In the near future TraumAid International will also offer leadership training to the students of Baraka.
Baraka Academy was established in 2005 and is administered by a local board. A second campus was established within the grounds of the Tumaini Community Development Centre in September 2008. A total of 500 orphaned children, and approximately 200 fee-paying students, now attend the Academy.
The Academy has a number of income-generating projects to support its independence and expansion. Food is grown on the grounds, and what is not used for the students' daily meals is sold at the market. The Academy also has a modern playground, which is opened to the public for a fee.
A further two Baraka Academy campuses will open in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during 2009. A secondary boarding school and university are also planned, which will enable the orphans to receive ongoing education and, it is hoped, eventually become leaders who can affect positive social change in their community.