The Next 500 Future Leaders of Congo

Together we are writing a new story in Congo.

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Alumni Spotlight: Joella Mbiliki

In the early 2000s, Joella Mbiliki (’16) and her family were living in Bunia when war broke out. Her family lost almost everything, including their land and livestock, and fled to Uganda as refugees.  After resettling in Kisingani, DR Congo years later, Joella left Kisingani to study at UCBC.  She said she chose UCBC because of “the values, formation, and knowledge gained would be used to benefit herself, her family, and community.” She was the president of UCBC’s Women’s Voices (2015 – 16) and now works for the DRC embassy in Kampala, Uganda.

What are three things you enjoyed about UCBC? 

Joella: First of all, I will say there is community. There is self-confidence and Christian spirituality. The training that we receive has a vision which will allow us to be recognized as students, and to learn not just for a moment, but for an entire lifetime. This enables us to cultivate self-confidence, and wherever we are, to serve the community. UCBC encourages us to be a reference, a model so that others will learn from us.

Why would you encourage young women to attend UCBC?

Joella: First of all, it is our purpose to reach all classes of society in Beni town, girls who are yet to attend and complete secondary school, and even primary school students to recognize who they are. How can we know woman voices if that voice cannot be heard? That is why we visit those women, to speak to them, holding conferences, working with them to let them understand their role, who they are, who they want to become in the future. 

Adding on to that, it would be good to attend UCBC and experience the transformation advocated there. A transformation that is related to leadership within all domains… in economics, communication, theology, applied sciences.

It is now known, that those who have come to UCBC make a difference in employment and professional life. Nowadays, we can see [alumni] reflect as good fruit from UCBC in society. There are differences by our way of acting, reacting, working, dialoguing, sharing with strangers, which allows others to identify those from UCBC. It is for us like a personality, it identifies us.

When new students have an organization like Women Voices they will have a community, they will sensitize their colleagues to share about the challenges for women and see how they can solve them, how to create solutions about many problems in our society, in our communities, and in our associations. They will encourage other women who may not study to desire leadership and help those in need of service, positively influencing their community…There are women in the Bible like Deborah who was Prophet, and Esther who make a mark on their time….Naomi, Ruth. Why not us, women at UCBC. This will allow the transformation to start with us because the society needs us, the DRC needs us. People always say “something must change”… and we believe this must start with us. Because when we are determined and engaged in the training and transformation promoted here, this will help us transform Congo. And we should work strongly so that our generation should have good fruit that can change the reality of our country, the DRC.

What did you enjoy about being a leader in Women’s Voices?

Joella: It was a pleasure for me because being president of Women’s Voices is a practice of leadership. As they always say, “Start where you are.” I have to start where I am, and this transformation will allow other girls, not only those of UCBC, but all over the society, so that us girls we will recognize, as young student engage, determined, we will have self-confidence, esteem, and use our knowledge, capacity, and talents for the well being of community.

 

 

Partner Stories: Chelsie

A native of Minnesota, Chelsie Frank worked and served at UCBC for four years, helping establish the service learning program at UCBC.  Service-Learning connects classroom instruction to community realities and is an important aspect of UCBC’s triadic-training model. The academic program enriches students educational experience by creating opportunities for them use knowledge gained in the classroom to serve others, find solutions to problems in their community, and develop their leadership skills.  She first learned about Congo Initiative and UCBC through her church and one of CI’s long-time partners, Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina, MN.

Please share an inspiring story or experience from your time with UCBC?

Chelsie: During my time teaching at UCBC, my students reflected on Congo’s history and reputation of being burdened with corruption. I was grieved over the reflections of my female students; the prevalence of sexual abuse and harrassment across educational institutions. For one of the preparatory English courses I taught, a student wrote this poem:

Condemned to be a Girl
 
I’ve arrived at school
I have a big problem
I go somewhere thinking that I can have the solution
The answer of the question is:
You are unable yourself, come on my bed with me: if you want to be successful
I’m confused
I can’t change my nature because I am condemned to be a girl.
 
I am looking for a job
I get it easily
Problems come immediately
Someone tell[s] me that he has a solution:
To come [in] bed with him.
The job is all I have
I don’t know what to do because
I am condemned to be a girl
 
Oh! World! Why are you cruel with me?
You wont have the one thing that God give to me?
I am very confused
I can’t change that thing!
It is my nature because
I am condemned to be a girl
That is my destiny

However, I was inspired by one of our female students, Ruth, studying the Applied Sciences department. She was one of 3 female students enrolled in this major at UCBC: she beamed with courage, kindness, and strength. She told me that she chose UCBC because of it’s integrity. Ruth came to UCBC because their was a higher moral standard than most universities. She was confident that she wouldn’t have to pay a bribes to get a paper graded, be confronted with sexual abuse, or be asked to turn a blind-eye if students were cheating. At UCBC Ruth had the opportunity to exercise her intellect, stretch her faith, and grow as a leader. She was a leader in UCBC’s student government, participated in women’s sports, and was an intern in the Service-Learning department.

As an International Staff member, how did UCBC transform you?

Chelsie: Congo left a mark on me. I’m forever changed and it’s difficult to numerate or prioritize what to share. However, Ruth’s experience is unforgettable because if I entertain the question, “where would she be without UCBC?” it brings me to tears. ‘Condemned to be a girl’ would be her reality. Bribes, sexual exploitation, and corruption would stand in her way. She wouldn’t have the option to become an engineer, mathematician, or scientist. Congo needs her courage, integrity, and intellect.  Studying at UCBC allowed her to flourish into the woman God created her to be.

What inspired you to become a donor to UCBC? 

Chelsie: I’m supporting UCBC because I’ve seen it make a difference in the lives of young Congolese leaders. I truly believe these students will transform Congo. I am thrilled to be giving to the NEXT 500 campaign and encourage you to make a contribution on behalf of young women and men like Ruth, ready and able to transform their communities and country. What a joy to be part of this miracle!

Chelsie now lives in Seattle, WA and works for World Vision USA as manager of the Speakers Bureau.

Alumni Spotlight: Linda Musavuli

When Linda Kasali Musavuli first moved to Beni, she did not plan to study at UCBC. After attending secondary school in the big city and capital, Kinshasa, she could not imagine leaving the larger universities of the city for a young university in the town of Beni. In fact, she wanted to study some day in the U.S. or Canada. But, after some convincing from family and friends, she decided to attend an orientation at UCBC and participate in the intensive English courses.

On the second day, she began to appreciate the environment and community at UCBC. She began to feel a stir in her heart and felt “God was opening her eyes, helping her see beyond what she was seeing.” Though not entirely ready and cautious, she decided to stay in Beni and enroll.

Learning to balance life as a student and eventually, as a spouse and mother, her experience at UCBC not only provided an environment to grow academically and spiritually, it prepared her for future opportunities.

“The intensive courses were difficult. But, when I went to African International University (AIU) in Nairobi I realized it helped me, made me stronger to face challenges. At AIU, they have a semester schedule where you take one course the entire semester. But, at one time I was taking 7-8 courses and even my lecturers were concerned. But, I told him I would make it because I knew I succeeded at UCBC. So, it was a challenge that became an opportunity and I succeeded because of the preparation at UCBC,” she said.

Watch Linda describe the important role UCBC plays in Congo and why she is excited to be back as part of the staff!

Linda graduated from AIU with a Masters of Divinity in Missions in 2016 and has returned to Beni with her husband, Jean Musavuli, to work with the Faculty of Theology and the Center for Church Renewal and Global Mission. She is excited to join the UCBC team and serve as a leader, mentoring students through their own transformation and encouraging especially women to take on studies and leadership roles.