Sister Elisabeth – Wamba (Democratic Republic of the Congo)


The social enterprise developed by Sister Elisabeth concerns fish farming. The fish farm, funded by spazio + spadoni, is taking shape on the large tract of land owned by the Congregation. With the help of a technical engineer, she prepared the ponds there. The team, made up of Elisabeth’s fellow sisters, has begun selling the fish.
The Misericordia di Alfero hosted Sister Elisabeth, a member of the Petites Sœurs de l’Evangélisation (PSE), for the HIC SUM project. On 6 March 2022, she returned to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the community of Wamba, a small town in Haut-Uélé Province.
The community, which is home to six sisters, is located in a village and has access to water, but the electricity supply is very unstable. The sisters are engaged in farming and agriculture and live out the Works of Mercy by visiting and assisting the poor.
Timeline
2020
November | Start of the relationship
The collaboration between spazio + spadoni, the Misericordia di Alfero, and the Petites Sœurs de l’Evangélisation (PSE) begins
2021
January, February, March | Training
Sister Elisabeth takes an Italian language course in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
15.09 | Sister’s arrival
Sister Elisabeth arrives in Italy and is welcomed by the Misericordia di Alfero


30.10 | Training
Sister Elisabeth receives bakery training in Alfero

2022
28.01 | Sister’s transfer
Sister Elisabeth, who needs medical care, moves to Lucca to stay with the Sisters of Santa Gemma; spazio + spadoni is thus able to accompany her and closely follow her medical treatment

February | Training
Training in first-aid techniques
13.02 | Training
Learning about the local area. Visit to the Sanctuary of Montenero (LI)

16.02 | Training
Technical training by spazio + spadoni at the Convento di San Cerbone (LU)





23.02 | Training
Sister Elisabeth takes an Italian cooking course with the Sisters of Santa Gemma
03.03 | Training
spazio + spadoni training on social enterprise at the Convento di San Cerbone (LU)



06.03 | Sister’s departure
Sister Elisabeth returns to Wamba in the Democratic Republic of the Congo




01.05 | Meeting with the Mother General
spazio + spadoni meets the PSE Superior General, Mother Gustave, in Rome

30.09 | First funding disbursed
Intended to begin preparing the land for the ponds, purchase two ponds, and purchase the fish
15.11 | Training




2023
16.01 | Second funding disbursed
The funding is intended to increase the number of ponds, purchase more fish, and pay the employees
10.03 | Social enterprise development
The ponds are ready and the fish are introduced
December | spazio + spadoni meets Sister Elisabeth
During a missionary trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Selene travels to Goma to meet and greet Sister Elisabeth. The sister is in Goma to follow a rehabilitation programme.

08.05 | Third funding disbursed
The funding is intended to purchase fish feed and strengthen the social enterprise
2024
19.05 | The Mother General visits the social enterprise
Mother Gustave visits the social enterprise and assesses its progress



06.08 | Fourth funding disbursed
The funding is intended to purchase a freezer to preserve the fish before sale and a solar panel to ensure that the freezer works even when there is no electricity spazio + spadoni



Project evaluations
All evaluations
- November 2021
Online meeting with the Mother General - December 2021
The project that Sister Elisabeth wants to develop upon her return to the Democratic Republic of the Congo is fish farming - September 2022
Update and submission of estimates - September 2022
spazio + spadoni sends an expert to Wamba - September 2022
Market analysis - February 2023
Monitoring - February 2023
Progress monitoring of the work - March 2023
Schedule of activities - August 2023
Monitoring of activities - March 2024
Discussion with the Mother General about the Works of Mercy - May 2024
Business plan submitted and call with Mother Gustave - July 2024
Monitoring
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