Building Phase 2 of 5 in Lemba, Kinshasa $80K to open the doors · Target 2027 Tax receipts issued instantly via CanadaHelps Backed by NBA Champion DJ Mbenga Building Phase 2 of 5 in Lemba, Kinshasa $80K to open the doors · Target 2027 Tax receipts issued instantly via CanadaHelps Backed by NBA Champion DJ Mbenga
Five ways in

Pick a way in.
None of them are small.

A donation, a pledge, an hour, a partnership, a share — every contribution moves us closer to the day the doors open.

The five paths

Whatever you have to give.

Money helps. Time helps. Sharing helps. So does a corporate match, a class fundraiser, or a box of books. Below is the full menu.

01 · Money

Donate.

Every dollar goes to construction and books. Tax receipts issued instantly via CanadaHelps. One-time or monthly.

See donation tiers →
02 · Patience

Pledge for opening day.

Most foundations prefer to fund post-construction. Drop your email and we'll let you know the day the library opens.

Save your spot →
03 · Time

Volunteer.

Translation, design, social, organizing class fundraisers, advising on grant writing. Remote or in-person.

Volunteer with us →
04 · Reach

Partner.

Corporate matching, in-kind donations, school class fundraisers, faith communities. We meet you where you are.

Partner inquiry →
05 · Voice

Share.

The simplest, often the most powerful. Tell one person about Fondation LoLa today. Forward our YouTube video.

Spread the word →
06 · Books

Donate books.

French, Lingala, Kikongo, English. Children's, young adult, reference. Get in touch about shipping logistics.

Email us →
Plan to give later?

Save your spot
for opening day.

Most foundations and major donors have told us they'd rather help once the library is open. We hear you. Drop your email and we'll let you know the moment the doors swing open.

No pressure. No follow-up campaigns. Just one note when the day arrives.

Volunteer & partner

Time, expertise, or your network.

Some of our most useful contributions have not been money. A grade-3 class fundraiser. A telecom partner pledging tablets. An NBA champion lending his platform. We are open to almost any honest help.

Specifically right now we are looking for:

  • Grant-writing volunteers (Canadian charity sector)
  • Bilingual EN/FR copy editing
  • Photography and videography in Kinshasa
  • Corporate matching champions inside your employer
  • School and faith-community class fundraisers
  • Book donations (French, Lingala, Kikongo, English)
From a distance

Many of you have told us you'd happily pitch in if the build were closer to home. The construction itself runs through local Kinshasa contractors — but the contributions that genuinely move us forward from abroad are the six above. Distance shapes how you can help, not whether you can.

Get in touch.

Tell us a little about you and how you'd like to help. We respond personally within 5 business days.

Common questions

The questions donors actually ask.

Will I receive a tax receipt for my donation?
Yes — CanadaHelps issues a CRA-compliant tax receipt automatically and emails it to you within minutes. Fondation LoLa is a registered Canadian charity (BN 758770812RR0001).
What percentage of my donation actually goes to the library?
100% of donations go to construction and books. The founding family covers all administrative and operating costs personally. CanadaHelps charges a small platform fee (around 3.75%) for processing and tax receipt issuance — that's the only deduction before funds reach us.
Why is construction paused?
We launched an Indiegogo campaign in late 2024 with a goal of $83,500 and raised $8,847. After the campaign closed, we learned that most foundations and major donors prefer to fund programs rather than construction. Rather than continue without a clear path forward, the family decided to pause and self-fund the build at our own pace. Slower, but more certain.
When will the library open?
Our current target is 2027. The original target of December 2025 was set during the Indiegogo campaign and has slipped due to the funding pause. We will not commit to a date until we are confident we can hold it.
Can I set up a recurring monthly donation?
Yes — CanadaHelps supports monthly giving. On the donation page, choose "Monthly" instead of "One-time." Monthly donors are our most stable funding source and we are deeply grateful for them.
Can I donate books or equipment?
Yes. We accept books in French, Lingala, Kikongo, and English (children's, young adult, reference, study). For equipment donations or international shipments, please email info@lolafondation.com first so we can confirm logistics.
Is my donation refundable?
Donations are generally non-refundable as tax receipts are issued at the time of donation. If you donated in error, contact us within 7 days at info@lolafondation.com and we'll work with you and CanadaHelps to resolve it.
How can I follow the project's progress?
Subscribe to our quarterly updates from the Progress page. We post photos from the build, donor receipts, and what worked vs. what didn't. We also publish updates on Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
The simplest help

Tell one person
about us today.

The whole project began with a family conversation. Yours might be the next one.