The Keys to Restoration
Most missions are born from a plan, but this one was born from a trial.
In April 2024, our founder, Dr. Lazare Sebitereko, found himself unjustly incarcerated within the walls of Makala Prison in Kinshasa, DRC.
Surrounded by 14,000 men in a space built for 1,500, he saw a profound opportunity for service. What began as a personal trial became a mission field. He sat with his fellow detainees—not as an outsider, but as a brother—teaching literacy and sharing the Theology of Work. He realized then that while gates can be locked, the human spirit is designed for purpose and growth.
Regional Expansion: The Burundi Mandate
The work that began in a single cell has now crossed borders. Based on the proven impact of our literacy and judicial assistance programs in the DRC, Inganji Roots has entered into a formal partnership with the Ministry of Justice in Burundi. This partnership grants our team access to every prison in the nation. We step into these facilities as partners in literacy, judicial aid, and spiritual healing, working alongside the system to ensure that every individual has the tools to rebuild their life. To support this growth, 2026 marks the opening of our permanent coordination offices in both Bujumbura and Kinshasa, ensuring our presence is as stable as the mission itself.
Restoring the Power of the Mind
“I missed many opportunities in life because I did not know how to read and write… Today, I have mastered the symbols of spelling.” — Celestin, a student in Makala
Whether in the DRC or Burundi, the goal remains the same: to plant seeds of hope in arid land. We see 40-year-old men learning to calculate for the first time and young people being reunited with their families through our judicial assistance program. From adult literacy to providing care for children born within the prison system, we are committed to the long-term restoration of the whole person.
Join the Mission
“Hope is the proper seed to plant in the most arid land and expect it to grow.”
The doors are open. With the Ministry of Justice as our partner and a foundation built on firsthand experience, Inganji Roots is ready to reach every forgotten corner of the regional prison system. Your support provides the books, the teachers, and the resources necessary to turn a prison cell into a classroom of the future.