We are just a few weeks away from leasing our very own office in Congo! Mama Aroyo is looking at potential sites along one of the main roads in Aru. Our office will need to be centrally located so that all our artisans can easily reach it throughout the day. Currently, the women work at home or at Mama Aroyo's house which is a rental by the school where she teaches. We will also buy several new sewing machines for our work space, including an electric sewing machine. The women are so excited!
Emmanuel de Merode, Director of Virunga National Park
Goma, a city on along the Congo/Rwandan border, has suffered from civil conflict for decades. In 2013, Goma was terrorized by the Rwandan-backed rebel group M23. The iconic presence of the United Nations and other international organizations define the city's streets, restaurants, and shops. But, today, the endemic lack of employment and opportunity is changing.
Vanessa Jados has opened the first bakery (boulangerie) in Goma. "When you hear about Goma, it's always to do with the war, the volcano - you hear nothing good, but there are a lot of good things here." Development in Congo must begin and continue to grow from within. The Congolese are extremely hardworking and deeply committed to building a better future for their families. We must do our part to support their initiatives.
Below is a photo of Papa Jerome, Mama Philomena, and myself at the bakery in Aru, Congo. It was started by Luca, an Italian volunteer, in 2006. He trained several local Congolese (Atsidri is pictured below) in the art of bread-making. Today, the bakery is one of the most efficiently run shops in our village, and the rolls are delicious!
Pope Francis recently addressed the Bishops of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Vatican City. The message was to work for a society based on respect for the dignity of the person. By encouraging religious leaders to support all possibilities for human, spiritual, and professional formation, Pope Francis called upon the Church and Her people to reach out to those in need: to those whom the atrocities of life has wounded.
The Congo is a country in the heart of Africa. As a volunteer for the Canossian Daughters of Charity, I spent a year in the village of Aru, located near the borders of Uganda and South Sudan. The Canossian Sisters were founded by St. Magdalena of Canossa in 1808 and approved by Pope Leo XII in 1868. They have been serving missions throughout the world since 1860.
Once during my visit to Aru’s local university, a one-room dilapidated building made of crumbling clay and brick, the students were examining the effects of colonialism. I listened as they described the shameful treatment of preexisting African kingdoms and tribes by the Europeans, as well as the injustices of the slave trade.
They discussed disease and the deadly effects of what is referred to as the ‘resource curse’ which derives its name from Congo’s near limitless supplies of coal, uranium, gold, diamonds, and cobalt, making the country vulnerable to looting and violent conflict. Additionally, the students mentioned the dozens of currently active rebel and militia groups throughout Congo, including armed groups along its borders where there is no hesitation, or retribution, for enlisting child soldiers and using rape as a weapon of war. The university students, who were all male, also lamented that Congo remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world to be a woman.
At this point, you may find yourself asking: In a country so visibly damaged and their human dignity seemingly shattered, how can there be hope?
Then, surprising me, one student stated that despite human suffering, the teachings of Jesus Christ, transmitted by early European missionaries, brought salvation to Africa. The rest unanimously agreed.
Before departing, my good friend Mama Aroyo asked for help generating income to build a home for her family. Recognizing her talent as a seamstress, I requested that she make 25 African handbags that I could sell to family and friends in the U.S. Soon after Mama Aroyo received her profits, other village women expressed interest in doing likewise: giving us the idea and courage to create an artisan’s cooperative.
A cooperative is a group of individuals who voluntarily join together for shared economic, social, and cultural benefits. Due to lack of government presence and support, cooperatives are key to the positive growth and formation of communities in the developing world. Our cooperative, Totonga Bomoi, which means “Build Our Future,” has launched a 30-day campaign to fundraise $8,500 in start-up capital. This investment will establish the first artisan cooperative in Aru. It will engage a post-conflict society in the global market and provide an income to 10 local families. This is only the beginning.
When Pope John Paul II published Laborem Exercens (“On Human Work”), he wrote: “Work is a good thing for man, a good thing for his humanity, because through work, man not only transforms nature, adapting it to his own needs, but he also achieves fulfillment as a human being and indeed, in a sense, becomes more a human being.”
Pope Francis reminds us to serve Christ by living a life of love, kindness, and compassion so that the principles of social justice can be seen throughout the world. The inspiring women and families involved in our cooperative are a sign of hope, and their desire for a brighter tomorrow is our mission.
I just finished reading an article by Michael Barrett in the New Statesman, Letter from Kinshasa: on the trail of Henry Morton Stanley. Barrett wrote about the statue restoration of a well-known tyrant, Stanley. Where does the statue reside? It resides in the Congo.
Do you find it odd, or difficult, perhaps the idea of citizens going about their lives and walking past a statue which represents a bloody, violent past? In 1879, Stanley was hired by the Congo Free State, a ruthless enterprise which destroyed the land and dehumanized its people. Those who opposed Stanley were killed, as nothing was left after King Leopold of Belgium had his way. Sadly, the violence continued in the Congo long after their departure.
Kisangani, formerly known as Stanleyville, is where the debate ensues on whether to restore the statute of Stanley or leave it to waste. History and reflection have always been important to me. It reminds us of our achievements, as well as our failures. I will be very curious to see what becomes of the statue, if it should find its place of rest in the city or continue to be discussed over and over, without end.
“that all may promote authentic economic development that respects the dignity of all peoples.”
There is hardly a more powerful expression of our own mission than that of the 2014 prayer intention of Pope Francis. As a social enterprise, we believe that individuals and families will benefit by becoming contributing members of the global economy. We strive to represent a new style of business that places the human person at the center. We work to ensure that everyone involved is given the dignity and rewards of honest work. We seek to connect, serve, and inspire all those who play a role in our business — from Congolese artisans to global consumers.
We engage in meaningful business for the realization of dignity. A prosperous business will make a fine profit, but that is not our end goal. Our true aim is two-fold. First, to give individuals in Congo a chance to connect—economically—with the global marketplace, thus raising up their lives and their children so they can live with comfort and security. Second, to give individuals in the U.S. a chance to connect with the developing world by extending a hand to lift them out of poverty. The significance of these actions will have tremendous and lasting impacts. We hope to be a leader in person-centered business: one that uplifts each person involved and promotes true human development through economic opportunity.