Vincent* was just seven when he went to the market in Lubumbashi with his mother for their weekly shopping trip. Somewhere in the bustle, they became separated. He had no phone, no money — just the clothes he was wearing and a pair of flip flops on his feet. For many children, life on the streets is where their journey into exploitive labour begins.

His mother searched for him for hours that day. Then every day for weeks. But with no formal system to help, and no way to contact each other, they remained lost to one another.

Vincent spent the next four years surviving on the streets. Hunger was constant. Violence and drugs were everywhere. And with no adult to protect him, the risks went far beyond the daily fight to stay safe. In the DRC, where global demand for copper and cobalt fuels a booming — and often unregulated — mining industry, the streets are where many children are first exposed to exploitative labour. It’s here that some are recruited into informal mines, drawn in by the need to survive and the promise of a few francs.

Vincent was lucky. He eventually found Kimbilio, a local day centre supporting children living on the streets. He began visiting regularly — receiving meals, medical care, and a safe place to talk. In time, he moved into a transitional home, where he could access education, nutrition, and support to begin healing.

Then, four years after that day in the market, Kimbilio’s reunification team found his mother.

She had never stopped searching. At one point, she shared her story with a local pastor, explaining the pain of not knowing whether her son was dead or alive. The pastor told her he believed Vincent was still alive, and that one day, she would see him again.

And she did.

Today, Vincent is back home. He’s enrolled in school with ongoing support from Kimbilio, and his mother has joined an adult learning programme to help create a more secure future for them both.

This is what protection looks like when it’s rooted in dignity, trust, and the power of community.
And in a region where the most vulnerable children are at risk of being pulled into dangerous and exploitative work, it’s also a reminder: preventing child labour starts with keeping families together and children safe.

Kumi Foundation partners with trusted partners like Kimbilio, with strong local legitimacy and a vision to grow their impact in combatting root causes of supply chain inequity.

*some details and images have been changed