Launching children with neurodevelopmental differences in the DRC from exclusion to opportunity.

LEAPP is a registered non-profit organization in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. LEAPP welcomes donations of any size to help cover the cost of therapy supplies and service delivery. For example, your donation of $100 provides one month of individualized therapies for one child, including 3 sessions per week and parent/teacher consultation.

History of LEAPP

Pictured from left to right: Philippe KASONGO, Bertin MBUKANI, Betty SENGA, Etienne MAVE, Martin NTAMBWE.

Philippe, Bertin, Betty, Etienne and Martin worked together at Balou, the first boarding school and vocational training program for young people with special needs in the south-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This team dreamed of extending its clinical orientation to early intervention (early support for children under 3 who have developmental delays), individual therapies and school consultation. They also dreamed of extending their geographical reach beyond Lubumbashi. With the support of some local parents and international colleagues, they opened a neurodevelopment clinic in Kolwezi in April 2021.

Their work received widespread interest and support, and they expanded to Lubumbashi in April 2022. LEAPP has been engaged to speak about issues related to child development throughout SE Congo. This team is committed to their vision of inter-disciplinary collaboration, and expansion of neurodevelopmental services across SE Congo and beyond.

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Consulting Clinical Specialists

These professionals are available on a case-by-case basis to provide telephone or video conferencing during or after evaluations, and to provide consultation on the plan of treatment.

Jessica IKETE, Speech therapist.

Jessica graduated from the Haute Ecole Condorcet in Belgium where she Trained in speech and hearing sciences. Founder of Orthokin in Kinshasa, DRC.

Learn more about Jessica here.

Rebecca Kloberdanz, Occupational therapist.

Rebecca trained in occupational therapy and maternal and child public health at the University of Washington in the USA. She is the founder of Vashon Occupational Therapy in Vashon, WA, USA, and serves on LEAPP's board of directors.

Philippe Kasongo,
Clinical psychologist.

Philippe received his doctorate in psychology and education at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium, and he is a professor of psychology and education at the University of Lubumbashi. He serves on the board of directors for LEAPP.

STAFF

Étienne Mave

Exécutive Director and Clinical psychologist, Kolwezi and Lubumbashi

Martin Ntambwe

Chief Financial Officer and clinical psychologist,
Kolwezi and Lubumbashi.

Betty Senga

Physical Therapist,
Lubumbashi

Bertin Kamundala Mbukani

Deputy Director and clinical psychologist,
Kolwezi and Lubumbashi.

Georges NODY

Clinical Psychologist,
Kolwezi

Aimerite DJUGU

Clinical Psychologist, at the Rafiki School.

Héritier NUMBI

Psychologist point focal,
LEAPP Lubumbashi.

Guy GAKWAYA KAYENGA

Public relations officer.

Events

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“Understanding Autism” conference

June 5, 2024 – In response to the growing number of autism cases in Kolwezi, the medical team of Watu Wetu, led by Dr. Laeticia, organized a conference on the theme: ‘Understanding Autism.’ Based on its more than ten years of expertise in handling autism cases in centers in Kolwezi and Lubumbashi, Leapp Congo was…

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Congratulations Mrs. Safari Leonie!

June 23rd, 2024 – After a three-month internship at Leapp Congo and one month of assignment and service at Rafiki II, Mrs. Léonie from the University Espoir d’Afrique of Burundi will now leave us for Goma. A certificate of completion was awarded to her. We wish Mrs. Safari Léonie good luck and a continued success,…

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End of internship

March 14, 2024 – After two months of internship at Leapp Congo, the final-year clinical psychology students from the University of Lubumbashi have just experienced the stage of social integration through the control group and the experimental group at Rafiki School, which is a partner institution of Leapp for an integrative system. Many thanks to…

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Collaboration for the care of epilepsy

November 23rd, 2023 – Leapp Congo welcomes the initiative of collaboration between the Congolese Associations for epilepsy care and those from Italy (Amka, AFMAL, Vivalitaliano, and HabariRDC) for this conference evening. We sincerely thank all the speakers in general, and Dr. Marcellin Bugeme in particular, for their valuable contributions. Leapp highlights the importance of psychotherapy…

The teachers from Rafiki school are following a training.

Training at Rafiki school

Leapp offers the teachers at Rafiki school training on how to detect students’ learning difficulties and the remediation method. October 11, 2023

Orthokin Conference – July 18th through 21st 2023

Speech therapy interventions for children who have neuro-developmental delays causing deafness/hard-of-hearing, and cleft palate. This training program is for educators, psychologists, and parents. Speech therapy evaluations are available by appointment on Saturday, July 22. Here is the program of the Orthokin Conference taking place from July 18th to July 21st, 2023: Monday 07/17 – Tuesday…

A partnership between LEAPP and Rafiki school

During the school break and the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, a partnership between the two institutions will take place. LEAPP is honored to have been officially introduced, along with its services, to the parents and graduates of the Rafiki school. Rafiki school is located in Lubumbashi, DRC, and LEAPP will have an office…

One month internship completed

April 2023 – Students from the University of Kolwezi successfully completed a one-month internship at LEAPP.

A New Hope: Recent Advances in Regenerative Therapy in Treating Neurological Conditions.

March 30, Conference presented by LEAPP in collaboration with StemRx International at the university of Lubumbashi. Speakers: Doctor Mahajan Pradeep, Professor Noela Kalenga Nongolola, Psychotherapist Etienne Mave Mvulitere Contact: +243 81 330 3013 OR +243 81 547 9475 OR +91 84828 50122 OR +2773 044 2116 Venue: University of Lubumbashi Location: Faculty of Psychology and…

Dyslexia and Specific Learning Disabilities

August 15-19, 2022 LEAPP and Orthokin presented Dyslexia and Specific Learning Disabilities. This one-week seminar for parents and professionals, offered at LEAPP Lubumbashi (Golf Meteo), provided training in the screening and treatment for dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities from the perspective of a speech therapist.