How a seminary student in Dallas turned a fundraiser into joy — and daily provision — for the children of Global Bright Orphanage in Goma, DRC.
Jolie Pendeza was born in the Nyarugusu Refugee Camp in Kigoma, Tanzania. Her family — both parents and seven siblings — moved between refugee camps before resettling in the United States in 2009, when Jolie was ten. She still has family in Eastern Congo’s South Kivu Province, and today she is in her third year at Dallas Theological Seminary, pursuing a Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling. This year, from Dallas, she organized a toy drive for the orphans of Global Bright Orphanage, half a world away.
“The essential needs of kids in war-torn countries are always the number one priority — as they should be,” Jolie says. “But I wanted to shift the focus a bit. A kid shouldn’t have to solely focus on survival. Toys are a reminder that they are children, with a childhood to live.” Her research backs this up: play builds the cognitive, motor, and social-emotional skills every child needs — problem-solving, coordination, cooperation, and a safe outlet for big feelings.
Toys and school backpacks reach children at Global Bright Orphanage in Goma.
Others Came Alongside
Word of Jolie’s fundraiser reached Water Is Basic, a ministry partner of Transform DRC. Toys remind children they’re still children — but they also need to eat, and the 2026–2027 school year began September 1. Water Is Basic sent additional funds, and the Transform DRC team in Goma used them to buy food, school uniforms, and school supplies for the very same children. As our team shared, “You can’t bring toys to children without food. That’s why we partnered with Water Is Basic to purchase food, school uniforms, and materials for the new school year.”
The Transform DRC team sorts food, uniforms, and school supplies funded by Water Is Basic for Global Bright Orphanage.
“A special thanks to the team at Transform DRC in Goma for partnering with me to bring this vision to life. Your dedication and hard work made it possible to bring so much joy and bright smiles to these wonderful children.” — Jolie Pendeza
And a special thanks to Jolie, who remembers her own story and children and family a half a world away. And thanks to everyone who stepped forward so these children could receive the food and supplies they needed most — and in toys, a reminder that they are still children.