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Weaving networks of commitment in Kenya and Tanzania


At the World Women's Observatory (WWO) of the World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations (WUCWO) we have set out to "Listen to Transform Lives". We have listened to "the cry of 10,790 women from 37 countries in Africa" and have created a powerful network of women from Catholic organisations and religious congregations deeply committed to the fight against violence and discrimination.


Mercè and Adela from WWO travelled from Rome to Kenya and Tanzania for 20 days to continue listening and weaving networks of friendship and commitment.


Kenya

The trip to Kenya began in Nairobi. It was there that we were met at the airport by our future travel companions: Monica and Faith from the Catholic Women Association (CWA) and Sister Catherine and Sister Maureen, religious collaborators of the WWO.


The motto of the women of the CWA "Strong in faith" sums up what we experience. The love of the Catholic women accompanying the most vulnerable in the slums of Kibera and Kangemi, and the commitment of the women religious who are associated in the Association of Sisterhoods of Kenya (AOSK), focused on "empowering women" so that they in turn can empower others. We heard testimonies of women who, through training and the creation of small businesses such as candle making, tailoring, catering... have managed to have a dignified life for themselves and their families. We shared a day's meeting with the Catholic leaders of the 26 dioceses of Kenya: the "silent" work they do in the service of the Church and society is enormous!


Aware of the importance of networking with the Church hierarchy in order to listen to its advice and to strengthen the common work, we visited H.E. Hubertus Matheus Maria van Megen, Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, H.E. Philip Anyolo, Archbishop of Nairobi and representatives of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA), all of whom encouraged us to continue networking among lay and religious women as well as with diocesan bishops.



Tanzania

From Nairobi we flew to Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), where we were welcomed by Evaline, President of WAWATA, which is the umbrella organisation for Catholic women's communities in the country. Its motto "For the love of Christ, let us serve and be responsible" reflects the commitment and work that thousands of Catholic women carry out in their parishes and communities. We visited the Segerea prison where 160 women were incarcerated, six of them with their babies, and there we found a sign of hope and overcoming thanks to the commitment of Sylvia, who, with the help of other women, has set up a sewing workshop and a bakery. In the neighbourhood of Manzese we were enthusiastically welcomed by a group of women who participate in an economic empowerment programme run by Caritas and financed by Manos Unidas (Spain). A very moving moment was the meeting in the Daughters of Mary Immaculate shelter with 30 young girls who have been victims of trafficking: how much suffering in their lives and how much hope and overcoming in finding a safe haven and the possibility to heal their emotional wounds and to dream of a better future! With how much love they are accompanied by sisters like Sister Fatima, who left her country, India, and went to Africa to serve the most vulnerable! We were kindly received by H.E. Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa'ichi, Archbishop of Dar es Salaam and Synodal Father, who encouraged us to continue to put "the special gifts God has given to women" at the service of the Church and society.


On our return to Rome we gratefully remember the hugs, smiles, songs and dances with which we were welcomed by so many people of good will who love the Lord Jesus and are witnesses of his Good News and his Love. In Kenya and Tanzania we have witnessed that: faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. " (I Corinthians, 13).

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