Sister Perpetue – Isiro (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
PROJECT 16 of 72
MISSION
Location
Diocese
Isiro
Country
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Continent
Africa
GPS coordinates
2.462388 27.37066
Time zone
UTC+2
CONGREGATION
Congregation
Sœurs Dominicaines Filles de Sainte Catherine de Sienne
Motherhouse
Isiro
Diocese
Isiro-Niangara
Country
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Continent
Africa
Congregation feast day
29 April
GPS coordinates
2.462388 27.37066
Time zone
UTC+2
Contact person
Sister Perpetue
Mother General
Sister Celestine Sumanende
Website
TRAINING ORGANIZATION
Name
Misericordia Orta Nova
Location
Orta Nova (FG)
Country
Italy
Continent
Europe
GPS coordinates
41.33331 15.71010
Time zone
UTC+1
Start date
15/08/2021
End date
March 2022
Tutor
Gaetano Volpe
REAL SPACE
Project manager
Sister Perpetue
Start date
29 2022
Type
Pane di Misericordia
The project involving Sister Perpetue concerns poultry farming. On the 65-hectare plot where construction of the chicken coop has been completed, they also grow peanuts, corn, rice, and oil palms. The Congregation’s goal is also to teach village residents how to raise chickens so that they can become self-sufficient.
Sister Perpetue belongs to the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters, Daughters of Saint Catherine of Siena. In September 2021, she arrived in Apulia at the Misericordia di Orta Nova to begin her training. She stayed there for six months before returning to Isiro in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Isiro, the capital of Haut-Uele Province, is a city of about 200,000 inhabitants. It is located in northeastern Congo, on the border between the rainforest and the savanna. Because of the poor condition of the roads, it is not easy to reach; as a result, trade costs are very high and there are few job opportunities. The Isiro community consists of about ten sisters: some work in the Congregation’s church, while others work at the school. Before coming to Italy, Sister Perpetue managed the reception center and was a psychology assistant at the university. She also worked on the diocesan youth committee. Today she is the Congregation’s secretary.
After her first experience at the Misericordia di Orta Nova, Sister Perpetue returned to Italy in November 2022 to take part in the course on the Works of Mercy and the Economy of Communion, organized by spazio + spadoni and held in Loppiano (FI). At the end of the experience, Sister Perpetue returned to the Misericordia di Orta Nova for about a month to spend the Christmas holidays with the volunteers who were waiting for her with open arms, a sign both of their personal bond and of the positive impression Perpetue left on the Foggia community.
Learn more Interview with Mother General Celestine (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Timeline
2021
January | Start of the relationship
The collaboration between spazio + spadoni, the Misericordia di Orta Nova, and the Dominican Sisters, Daughters of Saint Catherine of Siena begins
15.08 | Sister’s arrival
Sister Perpetue arrives in Italy and is welcomed by the Misericordia di Orta Nova
17.10 | Book Club
29.10 | Training
Further study of the HIC SUM project. The training is held online
15.08 – 31.12 | Training
During her stay at the Misericordia, Sister Perpetue took technical courses in first aid, baking, and animal husbandry
2022
19.01 | Training
Technical training by spazio + spadoni at the Misericordia di Orta Nova
23.02 | Training
Technical training by spazio + spadoni at the Convento di San Cerbone
06.03 | Sister’s departure
Sister Perpetue returns to Isiro in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
30.04 | Meeting with the Mother General
spazio + spadoni meets with the Superior General in Rome to discuss the project
19.11 | Sister’s return to Italy
Sister Perpetue returns to Italy to attend the Course on the Works of Mercy organized by spazio + spadoni. The course ends on 16 December, and that same day Perpetue returns to the Misericordia di Orta Nova, where she will remain until February 2023
21.11 – 16.12 | Training
Together with other religious sisters, she takes part in the course devised and promoted by spazio + spadoni on the Works of Mercy and the Economy of Communion in Loppiano (FI)
29.11 | First funding disbursed
The funding is intended to start construction work on the chicken coop
01.01 – 06.03 | Training
During her stay at the Misericordia, Sister Perpetue took technical courses in first aid, baking, and animal husbandry
2023
09.02 | Sister’s departure
Sister Perpetue returns to Isiro in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
16.03 | Testimony
04.04 | Second funding disbursed
The funding is intended to continue construction work on the chicken coop
14.06 | Third funding disbursed
Third installment for construction of the chicken coop
September | spazio + spadoni in Orta Nova
14.11 | Fourth funding disbursed
Funding to complete construction of the chicken coop and purchase the chickens
2024
February | Start of production
Poultry farming has begun despite the major transportation difficulties caused by the condition of the road
2025
04.05| Meeting with the Mother General
On the occasion of the UISG Assembly, held in Rome from 5 to 9 May, spazio + spadoni met Mother Celestine and hosted her for the entire conference at the Motherhouse of the Missionary Daughters of Mary
Project evaluations
January 2022 The project that Sister Perpetue
wants to develop upon her return to the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be poultry farming
August 2022 A new
estimate is sent
December 2022
Monitoring
March 2023 The report on the
activities is sent
March 2023
Monitoring
May 2023 Analysis of the report
submitted
August 2023 Monitoring of the
chicken coop construction work
September 2023 New
market analysis
Photos and videos
