In September 2025, five young survivors of the African Islamist terrorist group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) violence walked across a graduation stage in Butembo in the Congo. Their achievement represented far more than years of schooling. It marked a victory over the trauma that once threatened to cut their lives short.

Each student carried memories of violence, displacement, and unthinkable loss. Yet each also carried something else. They carried the steady, faithful support of ICC’s donors who refused to let their stories end in despair. Tuition, school materials, food, clothing, and ongoing encouragement from their lives beyond belief. Their words tell the story best.

JULIEN, MASTER’S DEGREE IN GYNECO-OBSTETRICS

Julien survived the Masambo attack and nearly left school in 2021. When his future seemed to collapse, ICC stepped in and remained by his side for five years. “Today I am not just a graduate,” he said. “I am a gynecologist who is ready to serve my community and my country. God used ICC to restore my life.”

JUSCAR, MASTER’S DEGREE IN GYNECO-OBSTETRICS

Before ICC’s support began in 2021, Juscar believed his education was over. His past was filled with fear and loss. “ICC became my light,” he said. “This degree is not mine alone. It belongs to everyone who believed I could overcome.”

MICHAEL, BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN X-RAY

Michael lost his parents, his siblings, and his hope for the future. Returning to school felt impossible. ICC’s support gave him the chance to begin again. “From the ashes I rise with knowledge and strength,” he said. “I can now serve my community with confidence. I am deeply grateful.”

LYDIE, BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN PEDIATRICS

Lydie fled the ADF attack in Luna and arrived in Butembo with nothing. ICC paid for her tuition and helped her continue her studies. “My life had collapsed,” she said. “ICC gave me the chance to pursue my dream of becoming a pediatric nurse. I am grateful beyond words.”

KAMABU, BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN HOSPITALIZATION

Years of poverty and displacement left Kamabu without any clear way forward. ICC provided full support for all three years of her degree. “Attending university was more than an education,” she said. “It was a new beginning. I will use this gift to serve others.”

Three of the graduates hope to continue to the Master’s level if support becomes available. All five are already serving their communities with new skills, renewed dignity, and a sense of purpose that once felt out of reach.

Their stories reveal what your generosity makes possible. They remind us that when believers stand with the persecuted, hope is not theoretical. It becomes visible in classrooms, hospital wards, and the lives of young men and women who refuse to let violence define their futures.

These graduates carry deep gratitude toward ICC and toward every person who gave. Their message is simple and sincere: “Thank you for believing in us. Thank you for investing in our dreams. Thank you for helping us rise again.”

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