On Wednesday, December 22, 2021, the large Christ Roi parish hall of Mangobo in Kisangani welcomed students from 3th, 4th, 5th and 6th classes of the humanities of St Ignatius College for a video-forum organized by the Director of the Maïsha Center as part of the Ignatian Jubilee Year.

The video recounted the life of St Ignatius of Loyola as is in the Pilgrim’s Story. It was surprising to realize that many students attending this college did not know the Patron Saint of their school, let alone the Jesuit Fathers. One could read on their smiling faces their wonder when the speaker revealed to them that the fathers of the parish of Christ-Roi are Jesuits and ‘sons’ of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.

“Seeing all new things in Christ” is the theme of this Ignatian Year, explained the Director. The representative of the students of the college expressed a wish that the students can take Christ as the only reference for their life. Inspired by Ignatius’s experience of God, he invited them to let themselves be transformed by God instead of letting themselves be lulled by the world which is constantly changing.

La deuxième activité du jour concernait la protection de notre « maison commune ». Une conférence sur « les changements climatiques et la protection de l’environnement » animée tour à tour par le Directeur du Centre Maisha et Monsieur Felly Bombata, enseignant du collège, a été l’occasion d’attirer l’attention des élèves sur le bien-fondé de la protection de notre environnement. Les problèmes climatiques sont liés aux actions et aux comportements de l’homme vis-à-vis de la nature. C’est l’homme qui est au centre de plusieurs activités qui favorisent les changements climatiques.

Creating awareness about the protection of the environment, community participation, discouraging gas emission activities, and encouraging reforestation all help to fight climate change. This is how the Maisha Center contributes to the invitation of the Holy Father regarding the “Laudato Si Platform for Action”.

It is not only the students of Saint Ignatius college who have benefited from Maisha’s activities -In Saint Gabriel, the young people of the KA group (Kizito-Anuarité) gave a good example to others by collecting the rubbish abandoned all around their parish. It is an example for others to follow as it is something they do regularly.

Our beneficiaries also benefited were trained on the manufacture of pineapple juice, ginger juice, cocoa wine, and pineapple wine.

In fact, for the first time in its history, Father Provincial has sent a candidate for internship at the Maisha Center. It is about Premices MUMBERE who completed his secondary studies in agro-industrial technique

Le but de cette formation est d’aider ces personnes à devenir autonomes financièrement en exerçant des petites activités qui peuvent leur rapporter des petits revenus pour lutter contre la dépendance accrue, étant donné leur situation d’indigence et de grande précarité amplifiée par la présence la pandémie de COVID-19.

A la fin de la formation, les bénéficiaires ont reçu chacun un paquet de vivres pour la fête du nouvel an 2022.

December 2021
ANGWAMBI KUKYA Toussaint / Maisha Centre