Nigeria – Africa | Project #7 of 72

The social enterprise was intended to be established in the village of Idah and, in this specific case, would have strengthened the cultivation and processing of rice, a staple widely consumed by the local community. The Congregation owns a rice field in Idah but relies on a nearby mill to process the rice at certain times of the year, at very high cost. The goal was to make the sisters independent in harvesting and producing rice, so that the income from its sale could support both the social enterprise’s self-sufficiency and the poor in the community.

Because communication between us and Sister Margaret has been extremely difficult, we have not yet launched the project and are awaiting precise information about its development.

Sister Margaret belongs to the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus. She completed her training at Misericordia di Bivigliano in Mugello and was hosted by the Suore Serve di Maria Riparatrici, located not far from the Misericordia. She is currently in Nigeria in the community of Idah, a town in Kogi State on the eastern bank of the Niger River. Margaret’s community is in the countryside, in a marshy area with a severe shortage of even essential services; there is no electricity, and the sisters use a generator. They work mainly with children and women, offering activities in cooking, bookkeeping, and other practical skills that can be useful in everyday life. They also provide support related to prevention, personal assistance, and medical care. Learn more The Life Story of Mother Mary Charles Magdalen Walker