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The Next 500 Future Leaders of Congo

Together we are writing a new story in Congo.

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Women's Voices

May 07 2018

Student Stories: Hekima Kalumni

UCBC agribusiness student Hekima Kalumni played a key role in organizing the 2018 Women’s Voices conference centered on the theme, “Invest in the Transformational Leadership of Women.” Her extraordinary leadership encourages other female students to be bold in their educational pursuits and to recognize their strength as leaders, even if the world around them tries to tell them otherwise. For students like Kalumni, waiting on the world to change is not an option. Surrounded by a supportive community like Women’s Voices, she and other women in Congo know now is the time to discover their identity as leaders.

However, Hekima did not always have this confidence. Before coming to UCBC, she had “low self-esteem” and did not recognize her qualities and strengths. In her first year, Hekima began to recognize her potential as well as her role in leading transformation in Congo. She grew passionate about agribusiness and now wants to encourage others to pursue agricultural entrepreneurship. She witnessed older female students become leaders at UCBC, and eventually as alumni working in the wider community. And now, not only is she serving as a role model to younger students but as the second child of nine and the oldest daughter, Hekima is setting the stage for generations to come by attending a university and becoming a transformational leader.

“I have visions [for the future of Congo]. My long-term vision is to work towards the development of my country. My short-term vision is to encourage youth to be involved in agriculture entrepreneurship. I want to motivate farmers and create opportunities for them so they can sell their products,” Hekima explained.

In her first few years at UCBC, Hekima learned the important role women can play in leading agribusiness initiatives. She recognizes that “women have potential in various domains. But, in agriculture, UN studies show that with the same technological, financial, agriculture material conditions, women are 30% more productive than men. UNESCO has also shown that for an educated woman, her child has a 50% chance live beyond 5 years.”

For these reasons, investing in women’s education and agribusiness is critical for improving the livelihoods of women, children, and men in Congo. The good news, Hekima shared, is that “investment in women has already started; we can see it here at UCBC! I am among those who were selected for an agribusiness scholarship for women. For those who received this scholarship, it is time that we need to work hard and show people our potential.”

 

Written by Justin Hubbard · Categorized: Student Stories, Uncategorized, Women's Voices

Nov 17 2017

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.

 

 

Written by Justin Hubbard · Categorized: Uncategorized, Women's Voices

Oct 27 2017

Alumni Spotlight: Adelphine Angemito

 

Adelphine Angemito graduated in 2013. She now serves as human resources coordinator for Congo Initiative in Beni.

Written by Justin Hubbard · Categorized: Alumni Spotlight, Uncategorized, Women's Voices

Oct 27 2017

Alumni Spotlight: Clarisse Ngoyi

When the Academic Dean for Teaching, Innocent Bora, read the academic results at the 2016 UCBC graduation, the crowd erupted in cheers when Clarisse Ngoyi’s name was read. Ngoyi graduated with distinction and at the top gradu-ate in her class.

A native of Beni and the daughter of parents working in the medical profession, Ngoyi grew up knowing the importance of education. Both her parents serve in the medical profession at a local hospital. Ngoyi’s interests, however, were in communications, and she was pleased to hear a university in her hometown offered such a program. More  over, she was drawn to UCBC’s mission and values.

“I chose to attend UCBC because I wanted to study at university different from others in DRC. UCBC is exalting some good spiritual values and virtues that we don’t find in other universities in DRC,” Ngoyi said.
One of the challenges in Congo is the presence of hierarchal and sometimes corrupt administration of schools and universities. For a passionate and committed student like Ngoyi, attending a university that provided a comfortable space was crucial.

Reflecting on her time at UCBC and comparing it with what she has heard about other universities in Congo, Ngoyi explained, “I enjoyed the community life. We shared our lives without any fear. We were considered equal to staff members and there was no corruption. As I studied my courses, I received the grade I deserved. In other universities, it is hard to get the grade you deserve.”

For Ngoyi, her studies are on the one hand, her passion. She loves to study, to learn, to engage challenging concepts and think how they apply to her chosen field of communications. But, she is also aware of the gender disparity, and the important role education plays in creating future opportunities for women. As a student and a member of Women’s Voices, Ngoyi worked to promote women in education and continues to encourage female students to participate fearlessly in a culture that remains male-dominated.

“I try to tell women not to be discouraged or underestimate themselves thinking that they are inferior compared to men in the faculty of their choice, in the choice of university. We are all the same and equal and they should feel themselves able to also go to school because it’s very important for a woman to study,” Ngoyi said.

As a graduate, Ngoyi hopes to find a job opportunity in Beni, incorporating the spirit of service and community garnered during her time at UCBC. But, her true desire is to pursue graduate studies and look for opportunities to excel in her field – opportunities to improve her country.

“I chose communications, thinking how can I benefit my country and people in need. I want to deepen my knowledge in my domain so I can work effectively and help my country. I believe through our new generation we can change the situation in Congo.”

Written by Justin Hubbard · Categorized: Alumni Spotlight, Uncategorized, Women's Voices

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A Congo Initiative Campaign · EIN #20-3467419 · FAQ