Educating women, making them grow, that is what Mateya Ya Basi means in Lingala. This is one of the main objectives of the community of Kisantu (Democratic Republic of Congo). This is where M. Joaquina Lozano and Sr. Cilenia Rojas are, making the canonical visit to the community.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is a country on the African continent with an estimated population of 70 million inhabitants. Its capital is Kinshasa, which concentrates a population of 12 million inhabitants, with a cultural and linguistic plurality, with more than 365 ethnic groups.
It is a producer of large mineral resources, including coltan, which, instead of being an advantage for the country, has been the source of numerous armed conflicts for decades.
On the other hand, it is considered one of the poorest countries in the world, with 85 per cent of the population having to survive on what could be described as a miserable standard of living: less than $0.20 per person per day.
Kisantu is a small town in the province of CONGO CENTRAL. Its population is approximately 300,000 inhabitants, many of whom are migrants displaced by the war from the interior of the country, as well as war refugees.
In Kisantu the community welcomes the formation of young people who feel the call to religious life: self-knowledge, development of social skills, learning to pray, discernment of vocation, being accompanied. Formation is one of the most interesting and challenging services. It is a task that requires a lot of dialogue and prayer, confrontation and counselling.
In addition, the sisters run a vocational training project for young people and women, the NOEMI Centre, in the Holy Family parish. Its aim is the promotion of women for self-employment. Most of these young women are single mothers without financial resources.
In these faces Nazaria’s words come to life: to realise the social action of women.
