About Lobiko
Our Approach | Who We Partner With | Who We Serve | Our Leadership Team
Our Approach
At Lobiko we aim to be a bridge that brings community leaders, local experts, and change agents together, through partnership and collaboration, to advance our shared vision of opportunity and wellbeing in a thriving community.
Who We Partner With
Community Leaders
who care deeply about helping their community and has innovative ideas and plans for transformational change.
Local Experts
who are experts in a particular field with a deep understanding of the local context.
Change Agents
who share our vision and will contribute resources to ensure that every person has the opportunity to lead a life of wellbeing and to be part of a thriving community.
Who We Serve
We believe that a thriving community is a community that proactively works to address the needs of their most vulnerable population: children and youth. We aim to build partnerships to address one or more of these challenges:
Providing basic needs such as shelter, food, water, and healthcare.
Supporting holistic development through education or programs that promote intellectual, psychological, emotional, physical, and spiritual health.
Promoting the conditions for economic sustainability by developing opportunities of economic engagement for individuals.
Vulnerable Children
A distressing number of children are left orphaned or abandoned due to the relentless grip of poverty, with more than 4 million children in Congo facing this dire situation. Our dedication lies in supporting community leaders and grassroots organizations striving to supply fundamental necessities like shelter, sustenance, clean water, healthcare, and education to the children who are the farthest from accessing opportunities.
Underserved Youths
An outcome of poverty is the scarcity of opportunities for young individuals. In Africa, youth constitute 60% of the unemployed population, while in Congo, 70% of young people are self-employed or engaged in family work. Fostering conditions for communities to prosper necessitates an investment in young people, nurturing the growth of their talents and equipping them with the essential skills to drive positive transformation within their communities.
Adults living in extreme poverty
Countless individuals worldwide are trapped in the grip of extreme poverty, with an alarming 71% of Congolese residents enduring this harsh reality. Our conviction rests on the idea that in a thriving community, individuals should enjoy access to resources and assistance that render essential elements like purposeful employment, secure housing, reliable transportation, nutritious sustenance, clean water, comprehensive healthcare, and quality education within reach.
OUR VISION
Our vision is to empower every individual with the chance to embrace a life of well-being and to be an integral part of a vibrant, flourishing community.
OUR MISSION
Our heartfelt mission is to champion the all encompassing growth of children, nurturing their journey toward a life filled with purpose and well-being. We’re dedicated to preparing a new generation of visionary leaders who will ignite transformative change, all while tirelessly advocating for the vital infrastructures underpinning lasting economic sustainability.
Our strategy revolves around empowering those with an intimate understanding of the challenges. We foster collaboration with community leaders, local experts, and advocates for change, combining essential resources and knowledge to create an environment conducive to facilitating transformative change. This mission is driven by ensuring that every person can enjoy a life of wellbeing and actively contribute to the vitality of a thriving community.
Lobiko’s Founder and Executive Director
Wilita Sanguma
As the founder and Executive Director of the Lobiko Initiative, Wilita Sanguma's career is a testament to his unwavering commitment to transforming the lives of people furthest from opportunity. His story began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where his childhood was overshadowed by one of the deadliest conflicts since World War II. The harrowing experience of fleeing his homeland amidst chaos and violence instilled in him a profound understanding of the complexity of injustice and the importance of peace. This early exposure to conflict and his subsequent journey to safety laid the foundation for his later pursuits in political science at Fresno State University and a master's in International Studies at the University of San Francisco, where he specialized in peace and conflict resolution. Wilita's professional path reflects these early experiences and is marked by significant milestones. His personal trials have deeply influenced his work, especially his commitment to marginalized communities both in the U.S. and globally. His experiences of navigating systemic injustices and overcoming obstacles have fueled his passion for transformative change.
Lobiko’s Board Members
Brittany Sanguma
Chair
Karen Wiehoff
Vice Chair
Kathryn Badalich
Secretary
Daryl Cook
Treasurer
Leighia Fleming
Board Member
Gary Gaddini
Board Member
Shaya Kara
Board Member
Tim Marks
Board Member
Trésor Moolo
Board Member
What Compels Us to Serve
We live in a world where technological advancement, medical breakthroughs, and various innovations have improved many lives. Yet, millions of people continue to experience harsh (often unimaginable) living conditions due to violence and poverty.
In the Congo, where war and corruption have taken over 6 million lives, the cycle of violence and poverty continues to undermine millions of people's wellbeing.
Oliver’s story best embodies
this reality.
In the year 2007, Oliver entered a world steeped in sorrow, his first moments stained by the loss of his mother. Her life ebbed away shortly after bringing him into the world, leaving him utterly alone in a merciless realm. His uncle, burdened by his struggles, was tasked with the impossible duty of caring for this vulnerable soul.
As Oliver’s health withered like a fragile flower in a storm, his uncle, tormented by despair, reached the breaking point. After a month of unrelenting struggle, he culminated in an unthinkable act of abandonment. At a lonely gravesite, Oliver was left a tiny, defenseless figure forsaken by the one person he had left.
Abandoned and forsaken, Oliver’s faint and fragile cries were heard by some children playing nearby. With hearts as pure as the dawn, they raced to the source of this tragic melody, discovering Oliver abandoned in the cold, lying on the frigid ground. These children, an embodiment of compassion, cradled him in their arms and delivered him to the warmth of a nearby hospital, where a group of nurturing women wholeheartedly embraced his care.
Sabuli, a mother who had faced her profound sorrow and difficulties — recognized the vulnerability in Oliver’s eyes and was deeply moved by a mother’s compassionate heart. She felt compelled to extend her support. Sabuli proceeded to adopt Oliver and dedicated her life to creating a secure haven for him and other disadvantaged children in need of care.
Oliver’s story transcends the narrative of a child who lost his mother during childbirth. It’s a story that encompasses the tragedy of his mother’s death, a fate that might have been averted with access to quality healthcare. It extends to his uncle, who, trapped in the grip of abject poverty, is unable to provide for his nephew. It’s the tale of a society that lacks a safety net for the most vulnerable. Ultimately, it’s the story of Sabuli, a compassionate soul willing to assist those in need but constrained by the limited resources available to her.
Numerous children across the globe find themselves trapped in an unbreakable cycle of poverty, a result of centuries marked by historical imperialism, violence, and oppression. These young lives are deprived of fundamental necessities such as quality healthcare, education, and opportunities for meaningful employment. The plight of Congo serves as a poignant illustration, where decades of political instability and violence have led to the internal displacement of one-third of the population, resulting in an alarming statistic: approximately 4 million children left orphaned or homeless.
Narratives like Oliver & Sabuli’s, though frequently aggregated within data, lie at the heart of Lobiko. Our mission is firmly rooted in our conviction that everyone deserves a rich and rewarding existence – the chance to live to their fullest potential.
We believe that children should be raised in environments with the support and opportunities essential for their growth and prosperity as they navigate life’s journey.
