Sister Adele – Goma (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
PROJECT 24 of 72
MISSION
Location
Diocese
Goma
Country
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Continent
Africa
GPS coordinates
-1.65928 29.21995
Time zone
UTC+2
CONGREGATION
Congregation
Motherhouse
Brussels
Diocese
Brussels
Country
Belgium
Continent
Europe
Congregation feast day
3 June
GPS coordinates
50.87798 4.38780
Time zone
UTC+1
Contact person
Sister Adele and Sister Brigitte
Mother General
Sister Emérence Mwambusa
Website
TRAINING ORGANISATION
Location
Assisi (PG)
Country
Italy
Continent
Europe
GPS coordinates
43.09657 12.57170
Time zone
UTC+1
Start date
27/12/2021
End date
July 2022
Tutor
Don Maurizio Biagioni
REAL SPACE
Project manager
Sister Adele and Sister Brigitte
Start date
29 November 2022
Type
Bakery
After also considering the possibility of developing a poultry farm, the sisters decided to establish a small bakery near the neighbourhood market. Despite initial funding from spazio + spadoni, the enterprise has not yet been established because of the difficult geopolitical situation in Goma.
Sister Adele, a member of the Religieuses de la Sainte Famille D’Helmet Congregation, completed her training at the Misericordia di Assisi from December 2021 to July 2022. Her training focused mainly on baking and poultry-farming techniques. She also studied first aid, the Works of Mercy, cultivation techniques—thanks to the Misericordia’s vegetable garden—the charism of volunteering, and the life of Saint Francis of Assisi.
At the end of her experience in Italy, she returned to Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Goma is a city in the eastern part of the country, on the northern shore of Lake Kivu; it is the capital of North Kivu Province and has a population of about 250,000. Sister Adele’s community is located in the city and consists of nine sisters who work at the hospital and their school.
Learn more Sister Adele, living the Works of Mercy on the streets of Goma
Timeline
2021
05.03 | Start of the relationship with the Congregation
The Congregation asks spazio + spadoni to take part in the HIC SUM project
April, May, June | Training
Sister Adele takes an Italian course in Goma
09.08 | Start of the relationship with the Misericordia
The Misericordia di Assisi agrees to take part in the HIC SUM project
27.12 | Sister’s arrival
Sister Adele is welcomed by the Misericordia di Assisi
2022
Meeting with the bishop
H.E. Bishop Domenico Sorrentino
31.01 | Training
Technical visit by spazio + spadoni to Assisi
April | Training
Specific training courses in poultry farming and baking
01.05 | Meeting with the Mother General
spazio + spadoni meets Mother Emerence, Superior of the Religieuses de la Sainte Famille D’Helmet Congregation, in Rome
06-09.06 | Training
Technical training for the HIC SUM project at the Convento di San Cerbone (LU)
01.07 | Sister’s departure
Sister Adele returns to Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
29.11 | First funding disbursed
Funding intended to purchase materials to launch the social enterprise
2025
January | Outbreak of tensions
The situation in Goma worsens with the outbreak of war. In such a critical context, planning a project is impossible
08.05 | Meeting with the Mother General
On the occasion of the UISG Assembly, held in Rome from 5 to 9 May, spazio + spadoni met the Superior General
Project evaluations
All evaluations
- February 2022
Discussion of the project to be developed - March 2022
The project that Sister Adele intends to develop concerns the establishment of a small bakery - April 2022
With the Misericordia and the Congregation, the activities Sister Adele is carrying out in Italy are reviewed - April 2022
Together with the Congregation and an engineer from Goma, the project’s sustainability is discussed - April 2022
Review of costs - May 2022
A spazio + spadoni technician visits the Goma mission where the project will be developed - October 2022
A spazio + spadoni technician pays a visit to Sister Adele - November 2022
Definition of the overall budget - May 2023
Planning the launch of the project - November 2023
During a missionary trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Selene visits Sister Adele and Sister Gaudence’s community - January 2024
Monitoring and organisation of the spread of the Works of Mercy
Photos and videos
