Sr. Paola Moggi, CMS
At the end of January 2025 the Province of North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was devastated by heinous violence. The militia M23, backed by Rwanda, attacked the area and conquered the capital Goma: at least 2,900 people were killed and over 500,000 displaced.
Due to its precious minerals, the region has been marred by conflict since the year 2000, with recurrent massacres and aggressions by different militias.
Located almost 280 km North of Goma, Butembo is the second town of the Province.
Work in wartime
The Comboni Missionary Sisters are present there since 1997, and sr. Liée Natingar tells of the educational services provided by the community.
The first service, the Comboni Remedial Education Centre, known also as Comboni Social centre, was started in 2011 as accelerated learning programme for displaced youth aged 10 to 25 years old.
It enables them to complete primary education within 3 years: «Most students are hosted by relatives of by people for whom they work as house helpers; that is why at the Centre classes run in the afternoon from 1.00 to 5.00 pm.
Among our students there are orphans and also young people with various forms of disability. Due to past traumas, some show very negative behaviours, but we try to help the hosting families understand that “bad youth” do not exist. It is us, the adults, who can encourage them to grow more positively if we treat them with respect and care. For those most in need of trauma healing the Centre provides also psychosocial support».
Hope in chaos
St. Daniel Comboni Primary School was opened in 2021 and follows the national curriculum of six years. At present it has 450 pupils distributed in 11 classes: they are both girls and boy, starting from the age of 6.
St. Daniel Comboni Institute was inaugurated in 2022: it comprises of a two-year orientation cycle followed by secondary education in Nutrition, Commercial or Management.
Sr. Liée underlines the attention given to quality education: «Our schools are highly appreciated by the families for the discipline and the good manners.
Moreover, those living nearby were so happy when we opened the Primary and Secondary School because their sons and daughters were no longer exposed to the risk of kidnapping and rape while walking longer distance to reach school».
Violence continues but hope is firm
In this time of recrudescent violence the area faces additional challenges: «The main concerns of most parents is to pay for the education of their children.
Butembo used to thrive on farming, but due to higher insecurity, now it is dangerous for the people even to reach their camps and cultivate».
In the Jubilee Year an untold humanitarian tragedy continues to unfold in North Kivu, but the presence of the Comboni Missionary Sisters and their healing touch remain a beacon of hope.