“… It is necessary to continue our training. The times of spiritual and professional deepening will only bear fruit if they are linked to a continuous personal effort, which knows how to exploit the means, even modest ones, within our reach. (Constitutions No. 86)”
From the beginning, our congregation has been very attentive to the study path of the young people who wanted to join us. Alongside doctrinal studies, there has always been a mandate to form us in professions that could enrich our apostolate with specific methodologies and tools for our mission.
First and foremost there has always been the study of local languages and dialects. At the beginning it was Arabic and the dialects of North Africa and some sisters had acquired such a mastery that they became teachers and professors.
As for the professions, at the beginning they were all provided with practical courses to face the challenges of the surroundings of the time. Several sisters arrived from families with farms but they had to learn to adapt to a different climate in order to be able to grow their own food. Over time, they managed to establish vineyards, and in addition they also learned masonry and shoemaking! Of course, all of them were capable of cleaning and cooking, but even in these more humble tasks there are sisters who have distinguished themselves and who were able to create pleasant and welcoming atmospheres in difficult conditions.
Over time, some sisters were already arriving with studies and experiences in teaching, health care, secretarial work. Each offered her services for the community and the apostolate. Other sisters were able to study law or medicine and they distinguished themselves in their dedication to achieving the best possible levels in the services offered.
Today each sister follows an individual course of study to develop her potential and enrich her apostolate. We have some reference establishments, such as Tangaza College in Nairobi, with its several Institutes throughout Africa, or St. Anselme Institute in Rome.
As far as languages are concerned, they must master French and English and in addition study the language of the place of their apostolate, in order to be able to communicate directly with people.
In addition there is the PISAI in Rome, founded by the White Fathers, which is an establishment of excellence. The Pontifical Institute for Arab and Islamic Studies is a study and research centre whose educational and scientific activities prepare for an enlightened theological dialogue with Muslims. Several of our sisters attended it and also became professors at PISAI!
Sometimes this journey can involve unexpected studies… Let us listen to the experience of our sister Franceline Hien.
“In February 2018, I was sent on a mission to Kenya for three years of studies in Human and Sustainable Development. With my aptitude as a primary school teacher and my diploma as a kindergarten teacher, I wondered inwardly “But why not study in the field of education? »
At the same time, I was driven by curiosity to know what Social Transformation studies consisted of, because I am interested in the social field, especially to be able to work with displaced people.
Once at University, I discovered that it was a personal transformation to be able to contribute to our society in search of authentic change.
This program has opened my heart and my eyes to see how we can do the same things, with a new spirit: to find sustainable solutions from our local resources by no longer relying solely on money to carry out a project, taking into account human resources, local knowledge and physical space to enhance them for lasting and authentic change. This is truly a challenge in our current world. What I have learned applies not only for development projects, but also in our communities and our apostolic life, wherever we are.
For a lasting and fruitful achievement, group and network work and collaboration are values to be cultivated and lived as agents of transformation. This has been well implemented during these three years of training. There were many challenges but also many joys to live, since Tangaza is a family rich in cultural diversity.
The greatest gift that the university gave me was to allow me, during the 2021/2022 school year, to be part of the team of the electoral commission, on the occasion of the presidential elections. It opened my eyes to how to conduct elections.
Thank you to everyone for your prayers and encouragement of all kinds. It is thanks to you that I was able to carry out these studies. A special thank you to my community of South B who was able to support and encourage me during this time.
I wish you Jesus wherever you are.”