Siblings bring Congo Christmas spirit
Alliance, Durque and Moses Babunga once were recipients; now they’re helping others
Christmas in the Congo was celebrated very differently than it is in Surrey, but the spirit behind the holiday was the same.
Alliance Babunga, 22, and her 19-year-old brother Durque have gone from being recipients of the Surrey Christmas Bureau after they left the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2009 to contributing as volunteers with the agency, which is one of 27 community organizations supported by The Province’s Empty Stocking Fund.
“I get to interact with parents oneon-one,” Alliance said of her role at the Bureau. “I hear how this makes a difference for their Christmas — it’s always a gratifying feeling.
“It’s nice to know you’re helping people have a good holiday.”
Added her brother: “At first we just wanted to volunteer our hours, but then we got into it, and it’s nice to just be able to give back to the community, to lend a hand when people need a hand.
“And the volunteers, everyone is in a good mood, everyone seems happy and smiling.”
There are six children in the family, the youngest being five, and Durque said he hopes as his siblings get older they’ll all become involved, too.
“They bring a youthful spirit.” said KC Gilroy, depot co-ordinator at the Surrey bureau. “It’s a unique enthusiasm, a unique way of communicating. Surrey, like Vancouver, has a United Nations in our lineup, so it’s wonderful having volunteers with different backgrounds. They connect with people.
“They have their feet in both camps. Their family used to receive help and now at this point they contribute.
“Their family has been through some things. It was probably no picnic in the Congo.”
The Christmas bureau itself got a special early present this year when Bosa Properties donated the use of a 31,000-square-foot former furniture warehouse near city hall for the toy depot. Bosa will cover the cost of utilities.
“It’s a fantastic location,” Gilroy said.
“A mom was in the other day to register and she came across the floor and gave me a big hug. She said ‘I know now I have some sort of Christmas to look forward to.’
“As a parent, you know your kid can go back to school in January, he can show up with the toys he got, too, even though he’s from a low-income family.
“That gives these kids a sense of belonging.”
And about Christmas in the Congo? “They’d barbecue chicken, there’d be a huge family gathering,” Alliance said.
“As for celebrating Christmas, it was very different back in Africa from here. But it was the same idea, a celebration of happiness. It’s a time of giving, of celebrating and sharing and, for Christians, the time of celebrating the birth of Christ.”
Thanks to the fundraising efforts of corporate sponsors, local business and community supporters, and, of course, Province readers, The Empty Stocking Fund raised more than $300,000 last year.
That money was distributed to 27 community agencies across B.C. to help buy gifts and food hampers for those in need. Funds are administered through The Province’s partner, United Way of the Lower Mainland. The Province pays all the administration costs, so 100 per cent of the funds raised goes to those who need help.