The Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC] is located in central Africa. Senior Pierre Mbala and his family immigrated to the U.S. with asylum in 2004. The DRC faces a lot of challenges, including poverty, sexual violence and child exploitation. One issue that stuck with Mbala was child exploitation. Mbala found a way to help the growing issue through Save the Children, an organization that allows people to make donations which are used to help children all over the world. With his family’s help, Mbala has found a way to raise money through selling bracelets and necklaces made by children in the DRC.

“My father was in the DRC last summer and sent me a picture of children working in a mine. There were some my age and some barely over five years old. These are people my age and lower who aren’t given the opportunity to go to school and are just working below minimum wage, and I just thought, ‘I need to act upon this and do something.’ The image motivated me to finally set out of the bubble of America and I wanted to help,” Mbala said. “My father told [me] I could start my own charity. Titled Business Built on Love, I came up with an idea. I sent money to my father and he told me I could probably start a small charitable business type thing. I sent $40 and brought back over 100 bracelets that I’ve been selling over the course of two months in the United States.”

All the proceeds are going to be donated to Save the Children to help youth around the world start a healthy life, have better opportunities, better education and protection from harm.

“I’m specifically sending it to the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the child exploitation issue. The issue is a result of systemic corruption. Contractors aren’t forced by the government to pay the workers a living wage because they’re giving lots of money to the president who turns a blind eye to his people,” Mbala said. “It goes further than corruption. A lot of the children aren’t offered education in the DRC, [and] as a result they have to stay home and pick up some slack. Families and kids are all struggling financially, so they fall prey to the practice but unfortunately get paid slave wages. I hope that their efforts can be strengthened and they can continue to do their work more efficiently. It’s just something I wanted to do and I just hope I can make a little bit of a difference.”

In the past two months, Mbala’s accomplishments have been noticed and supported by friends. When Mbala sees his friends wearing his bracelets, it fuels his passion to help the children of the DRC.

“My friends respect what I’m doing. Some say I’ve even started a wave. It’s deeper than that to me though. My friends who have bought their BBL gear are always wearing their bracelets, and it reminds me that they support my idea. It’s not me they’re supporting though, it’s the thousands of children who don’t get a chance to properly [experience] childhood. I respect anyone who has helped out bringing awareness to the situation in the DRC,” Mbala said.

Mbala doesn’t plan to stop helping the DRC when he runs out of bracelets, though he may have to help in a different way.

“I plan on majoring in Engineering at JMU. I don’t have a specific major set in stone, but biomedical engineering is something I think I would be able to apply in the DRC, especially for the children who need something to monitor their deteriorating health. Cobalt enters their lungs and they often go unchecked [with black lung]. I want to use my knowledge to improve the monitoring of health for those in the DRC. I’m going to be able to go back and affect [the] country the way that it affected my family. I think I’m supposed to do whatever I can to give back to my country. That’s my home. That’s why I’m doing what I’m doing,” Mbala said.

Though Mbala does not live in the DRC anymore, he feels that now that he has the opportunity and resources to help, it is his duty to do so.

“This country has been a blessing beyond beliefs. I’m protected by the best military in the world. I’ve received a free education at accredited schools. I’ve been granted money with Valley Scholars to go to college. Great fun is an understatement but it’s time I pay it back with love,” Mbala said. “This nation has taught me to love everyone, even your enemies. There is no limit to what you can do which is in the American dream. The lessons I’ve learned from this nation have shaped me into someone who cares for those who are marginalized, can [speak] their voice and shows that there are those who care.”

Giving back is one of Mbala’s top priorities. He plans to use what he knows and what he’ll learn in college to help more people in need. Selling these bracelets has become a hobby of sorts for Mbala.

“Before this I never had any hobbies. It probably sounds tacky, but doing this is my hobby. I’m learning how to improve, I’m enjoying it and I can show others. Also I think it’s important [to give back] because it gives them hope that those who leave aren’t just like, ‘Oh they’re gone forever, they’re never going to come back.’ I think [for] those who do leave, it’s their job to come back and make their country stronger and build it up from the bottom,” Mbala said. “America is great and no one can deny that, but all these third world countries can be equally as great. I’m just trying to do what I can for my country, to bring my country to where I know it can be. It has to start from somewhere.”

Mbala has influenced the people the people around him with what he is doing. Seeing the people around him wearing his bracelets and representing what he’s doing makes him feel very proud.

For Mbala, sympathy isn’t enough. He believes he has to act on the issues close to home in order to actually change their circumstances.

“I want to show people that we all need compassion which is being moved to do what you can for those who can’t. It’s not sympathy where one can just sit around and feel sorry,” Mbala said. “Seeing the children of the DRC experience an education and live a proper childhood would complete my journey.