Le Coeur Du Partage D Etienne Inc

LeCoeur:  Our Story

Le Cœur du Partage d’Etienne (“Etienne’s Heart of Sharing”) was born from the profound journey of Grace Ntibonera—a journey shaped by war, exile, and love. It began in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Grace’s father, Etienne Basirwa Chifizi, lived a life of bold activism and selfless compassion. Etienne’s tireless work to uplift the Congolese people, even in the face of political persecution and imprisonment, planted deep seeds of empathy in Grace.

Forced to flee with his family to Uganda, Grace witnessed his father once aggain step forward—not with resentment, but with open arms, continuing to serve the poor, the hungry, and the overlooked. For Grace, the experience of childhood hunger was not abstract. “I will never forget the experience of being hungry, myself. I never want another kid to experience this.” That hunger—physical and emotional—became the spark for a lifelong calling.

After finishing secondary school, Grace took a bold leap and immigrated to the United States in pursuit of education and opportunity. He arrived in Minnesota with little more than hope—and was soon welcomed into the community of Gustavus Adolphus College, where he earned a scholarship and began to find both his voice and his purpose.

Along the way, Grace formed a life-changing bond with Erik Thorsell, a Minnesota entreprenuer who became his surrogate father and steadfast supporter. Erik’s presence—steady, generous, and deep caring—offered Grace the kind of familial encouragement that mirrored Etienne’s original heart of giving. This intergenerational, cross-cultural relationship helped deepen Grace’s belief that love, when shared without condition, can rebuild what violence once tore apart.

Out of this journey came a movement.

Grace transformed his memories of exile, hunger, and hope into a force for good.    With his mother living in Kampala, Uganda, Grace founded Le Cœur du Partage d’Etienne, a 501C3 nonprofit (registered in the state of Minnesota) to build an organization and facilitywith a state-of-the-art kitchen in Kampala, Uganda to provide hot, nourishing meals and safe community spaces for children who are growing up in the same kind of uncertainty he once knew. Today, with the help of his mother and more than 20 other lived experience Uganda adults, the organization serves over 500 meals each week and offers joy, protection, and belonging to children who might otherwise go without.

Mission

The mission is simple: To continue Etienne’s legacy of selfless giving with the hope that, one day, no child faces the pangs of hunger that once shadowed Grace’s own childhood.

Because hunger should never be a child’s story. And with every meal, every smile, and every act of compassion, Le Cœur is writing a new one. Every meal served is more than food—it is dignity, security, and the promise of a brighter tomorrow.

Community Impact

Through strong bonds among children, staff, and supporters, we are building a sustainable culture of giving. At Le Coeur, no child is invisible, and every child finds not just a warm meal, but a caring community where they can grow, dream, and thrive.

"Every meal is more than food—it is dignity, security, and hope."

This GivingTuesday, your kindness brings food, strength, and unity to families in Uganda. A single act of love can transform a child’s day—and a community’s future.   Join us in uplifting health, nutrition, and hope.