Friday Morning. Niyi and I had been in the DR Congo for less than 36 hours, but it felt like a lot longer. Maybe today would be better.
It was. I really began to see for the first time the opportunities for healing and growth that God was offering people here in Beni.
We began our day visiting the home of Ugen Kerwegy and his wife Perpetua. They run a training center in their home, where women learn to sew clothing. Examining some of the clothing, I was impressed by the quality of the work. The stitching was tight and straight. The fabric was lighter than anything I ever owned - perfect for living on the equator, not so good for the northeastern United States where I live.
They were using a foot-powered sewing machine with a locally built wooden base and pedal. These wooden bases are preferred because they are actually more durable than metal ones, and if you break a wooden part in the Congolese bush, it is far easier to replace it than if a metal part breaks. The machine costs $70 US and the base can be purchased for $30 US.
Mrs. Kerwegy’s ancestral property is in walking distance down the road from their house. They are slowly building a concrete block home there, large enough to include some of the women in need of safe housing.
On this property the ministry offers training in agriculture to women, who can use the skills to start their own small farms or gardens. This training is offered by Kavira Kibango, who has a diploma in agricultural from a local agricultural school. Both she and Ugen have been able to join the ministry staff as a result of Worldlink’s Focus Congo initiative. This allows them more time to serve the women and children victimized in the region.
At the time we visited, there were only two women in the agricultural program. Instead, the women focus on skills such as sewing, weaving, soap and basket making, or baking. They are hoping to remain in the population centers and earn a living in the markets.
I was told this is because many women are assaulted while in the fields. They fear that if they learn these skills, they will be sent back to the countryside and be exposed to danger again. The rapists were effective – women were still afraid of them, still dominated by fear of lawless men.
It was. I really began to see for the first time the opportunities for healing and growth that God was offering people here in Beni.
We began our day visiting the home of Ugen Kerwegy and his wife Perpetua. They run a training center in their home, where women learn to sew clothing. Examining some of the clothing, I was impressed by the quality of the work. The stitching was tight and straight. The fabric was lighter than anything I ever owned - perfect for living on the equator, not so good for the northeastern United States where I live.
They were using a foot-powered sewing machine with a locally built wooden base and pedal. These wooden bases are preferred because they are actually more durable than metal ones, and if you break a wooden part in the Congolese bush, it is far easier to replace it than if a metal part breaks. The machine costs $70 US and the base can be purchased for $30 US.Mrs. Kerwegy’s ancestral property is in walking distance down the road from their house. They are slowly building a concrete block home there, large enough to include some of the women in need of safe housing.
On this property the ministry offers training in agriculture to women, who can use the skills to start their own small farms or gardens. This training is offered by Kavira Kibango, who has a diploma in agricultural from a local agricultural school. Both she and Ugen have been able to join the ministry staff as a result of Worldlink’s Focus Congo initiative. This allows them more time to serve the women and children victimized in the region.At the time we visited, there were only two women in the agricultural program. Instead, the women focus on skills such as sewing, weaving, soap and basket making, or baking. They are hoping to remain in the population centers and earn a living in the markets.
I was told this is because many women are assaulted while in the fields. They fear that if they learn these skills, they will be sent back to the countryside and be exposed to danger again. The rapists were effective – women were still afraid of them, still dominated by fear of lawless men.
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