The Dina Center houses and cares for 64 girls between 3 and 17 years old. Operating at full capacity, the center is looking to expand to accommodate more than 50 girls waiting to enter the program.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, Africa - After being sexually abused by soldiers and watching with horror as friends and family were murdered before her eyes, Dina chose to look to the future.

In her honor, The Dina Center was named. The all girls' school was constructed for girls like Dina who experienced similar horrors.

Today, the school houses and cares for 64 girls between 3 and 17 years old.

"After having gone through the terror of having their families killed and then being raped, these children should have no reason to celebrate, but their lives have been transformed by this program," said David Darg, director of international disaster relief and special projects at Operation Blessing. "This type of sub human brutality is destroying the lives of hundreds of thousands of girls and women."

Eastern Congo has been plagued by war for years and recent violence has created a surge of refugees and orphans. 

In 2006, Operation Blessing teamed up with nonprofit, The Dina Foundation (TDF), to build a school in a remote village serving 300 students and also help with improvements to the Dina Center.

"Through counseling, medical treatment, education and vocational skills, The Dina center is bringing hope and giving a fresh start to the girls," said David Darg, director of international disaster relief and special projects at Operation Blessing.

"Through counseling, medical treatment, education and vocational skills, The Dina center is bringing hope and giving a fresh start to the girls," Darg said.

Now operating at full capacity, however, the center is looking to expand to accommodate more than 50 girls waiting to enter the program.

TDF asked OBI to help make this possible by helping them expand the current compound and construct and furnish a new dormitory to house 115 girls.

Additional upgrades to the center are already underway. A new toilet and shower facility has been completed and a new dining hall and kitchen is under construction. The additional land purchased to expand the dormitory will also provide a space for a clinic and pharmacy that will serve the center and the surrounding community.

"Through this project, OBI has the opportunity to impact the lives of 115 young girls who have endured unimaginable suffering," Darg said.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: Operation Blessing is helping to transform the futures of children like these by providing clean water, education assistance, nutritional feeding programs, medical care and more. Please make an online contribution toward OBI's orphan care programs today and help us continue to reach those in need.