Where construction is. What we've raised. What we've learned. Where it goes next. We share the unflattering parts because the encouraging parts are more credible when we do.
Photos from Lemba: the family compound before demolition, the foundation work in progress, and the structural columns rising.
A five-phase plan from demolition to opening day. Currently paused mid–phase 2 while the family saves to continue. Honest about the hold.
Childhood home dismantled. Foundation footprint retained. Some main-floor electrical completed.
Structural foundation begun. Sand, gravel, rebar, rocks delivered. Next: erecting the structural columns.
Brick walls, roof, doors, windows. Begins when phase 2 wraps.
Furniture, shelving, electrical finishing, plumbing, books, and tech.
Programs begin. Telecom partner activates internet & tablets. Doors open.
A running log of where the project has been — written for our backers, archived here for everyone. Newest first.
After preliminary discussions, the international NGO Bibliothèques Sans Frontières (Libraries Without Borders) has indicated they are prepared to support our digital library platform once construction is complete.
BSF brings global expertise in deploying digital library infrastructure in underserved communities — the team behind the Ideas Box and dozens of similar deployments across Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. For Fondation LoLa it means the post-opening digital experience will be built on a proven foundation, not improvised.
This is exactly the type of partner whose involvement closes some of the geographic distance between our Canadian donors and the Lemba site: the kind of expertise that local presence demands.
Our Indiegogo campaign has officially ended. Thanks to your incredible support — both online and offline — we raised $8,847 of our $83,500 goal (10.6%). While the campaign is now closed for donations, it remains accessible for reference. We're exploring ways to relaunch so donors can continue contributing. In the meantime, our CanadaHelps page is active for anyone wanting to support directly.
After a brief delay due to contractor availability, we're back on track. The funds raised are already making a difference: materials like sand, gravel, rocks, and rebar have been purchased and delivered, and prep work is done. The next big step is erecting the structural columns.
We know this is a long journey. Every bit of progress gets us closer to the finish line. This library will be a game-changer for the community.
Imagine a place where children have access to books, free high-speed internet, and a safe, inspiring space to study and grow. That's the dream we're building in Righini, Kinshasa — and thanks to your support, we're making it happen.
Over the Christmas holidays, construction paused. We're excited to announce that work resumes on January 20, 2025. The next phase focuses on the structural components — a critical step toward completing the library.
So far we've raised 6% of our $83,500 goal, and we're grateful for every contribution. With your help we've already completed demolition and some main-floor electrical work. Now we need more support to fast-track the remaining construction and bring this dream closer to reality.
Every contribution counts — just $50 helps us lay another brick, and $100 gets us closer to the second floor. Can't donate today? Share the campaign with anyone passionate about education and community growth.
Excited to share the latest milestones in our journey to build Righini, Kinshasa's first community library — a project that's turning dreams into reality. Your support has brought us closer to empowering this community through education and opportunity.
Our immediate goal is to raise the remaining funds to complete construction, purchase furniture, and acquire essential technology.
One of the moments that most reminded us why this matters happened in a Canadian elementary school, not a construction site.
An 8-year-old grade 3 student, hearing about the library project, stood up in front of his classmates and told them about the children of Lemba. The school responded by organizing a bake sale on January 15, 2025.
The goal was modest — somewhere between $400 and $500. The point was anything but. A grade-3 class on one continent baking cookies for a library on another is the entire mission of Fondation LoLa in a single afternoon.
If you're a teacher, parent, or principal who'd like to do the same — get in touch. We'll send a class kit, a story, and a thank-you that goes on the Wall.
"Our youngest advocate, an 8-year-old grade 3 student, inspired his classmates with the story of our library project. In response, his school is organizing a bake sale on January 15, 2025, to raise $400–$500. This heartwarming effort shows how even the youngest voices can make a big difference."
— Update #1, December 7, 2024
Family footage of the original home, the construction journey to date, and renderings of the finished library.
Photos from the build, donor receipts, what worked and what didn't. Four times a year. Unsubscribe anytime.
Every dollar shortens the pause. Tax receipts issued instantly through CanadaHelps.