In a country marred by a decade-long civil conflict, where over 70% of children are out of school and essential infrastructure is in disrepair, the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International (COFI) is leading a life-changing transformation. Through its member agency, the InnerCity Mission, COFI has launched a bold and compassionate initiative to bring hope and dignity to the people of the Central African Republic (CAR).
In the Libby community, just outside the capital city of Bangui, a groundbreaking ceremony marked the beginning of a remarkable project—the construction of the first-ever 100% free InnerCity Mission School in the country. This school will be a sanctuary for over 1,500 children from 10 surrounding communities, providing not just education, but nourishment, supplies, and a renewed future.
Before breaking ground, COFI and the InnerCity Mission organized a comprehensive hope relief mission, distributing food items and other basic essentials to hundreds of vulnerable families. For many, it was the first gesture of help they had seen in years.
The vision, inspired by COFI’s founder, Oyakhilome, is clear: to break the cycle of poverty through education and sustainable support. As one mother, Saidoni, expressed with joy, “As a mother of five, this school means my children will finally have a chance at a better future. I even dream of going back to school myself.”
A local elder and former student of the old community school site shared his gratitude: “If this school is truly built, many children will come, and they will finally have favorable learning conditions. This is a dream coming true.”
Chris Oyakhilome’s Foundation Sparks Educational Revival in Conflict-Torn Communities
The school is designed not only to educate but also to support. Once completed, it will offer:
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100% free tuition
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Daily meals through a fully operational school canteen
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School uniforms, bags, shoes, and textbooks at no cost
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Safe and inclusive learning environments
More than just a building, the school will become a symbol of healing and restoration for a war-torn generation. For many children who once sat on bare floors in overcrowded, under-equipped classrooms, a world of opportunity is now opening up.
Community leaders and officials alike have applauded the project. One government representative highlighted the far-reaching benefits: “This school will be the largest in the region, and it’s not just the size that matters—it’s the heart behind it. It will give our children the tools to rise, to learn, and to dream again.”
Chris Oyakhilome Rewrites the Story of a Generation
Chris Oyakhilome’s vision for the InnerCity Mission is global in scale, but deeply personal in impact. From Nigeria to Haiti, India to now Central Africa, COFI has continued to build schools, distribute relief supplies, and offer hope where it’s needed most.
“This project is not just about one school,” said a COFI representative during the event. “It’s about rewriting the story of a generation. It’s about bringing light where there was darkness, and building a future where none seemed possible.”
The gratitude expressed by the community was overwhelming. From the children to their parents, from elders to educators, one name was on everyone’s lips: Pastor Chris. His teachings, love, and tireless work through COFI have made a difference that will echo through generations.
Indeed, the Central African Republic may never be the same again. With education as the cornerstone of development, this new school is a symbol of rebirth, a promise that no child will be left behind.
Thank you, Chris Oyakhilome, and thank you to the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International. Together, you are building a better world—one child, one classroom, one community at a time.
