International Women’s Day 2025
Photographer Esther Ruth Mbabazi took this image in Juba, South Sudan, in September 2018, when the country was at war, yet ‘these graduates were full of hope for a brighter future’ On 8 March 2025, join us to celebrate International Women’s Day under the theme, “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” This year’s theme calls for action that can unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all and a feminist future where no one is left behind. Central to this vision is empowering the next generation—youth, particularly young women and adolescent girls—as catalysts for lasting change. This article is a collection of memories, quotes and resources to celebrate International Women’s Day together, from the websites of the United Nations and the Vatican. Sr Oluwakemi Akinleye fsp – Vatican City writes: The journey towards an International Women’s Day began in the 1900s in New York and…
Ambassadors of hope: together against human trafficking
Ambassadors of hope: together against human trafficking Every year on 8 February, in the liturgical memory of Saint Bakhita, we celebrate the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking. People on all continents unite their prayers against human trafficking. Among them, we, the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa, as members of Talitha Kum, the international network of religious against human trafficking. Join us and other Ambassadors of Hope in praying against human trafficking. Join the Online Pilgrimage of Prayer and Awareness against human trafficking on the 7th of February. For more information and prayer materials visit preghieracontrotratta.org
Unspoken voices of women in Maaji Refugee Settlments
By Sr. Julienne Bouda, Ukusijoni Community, Uganda Amidst the large population of Maaji Refugee Settlements, the majority are children, women and youth, with fewer men. Some are widows, but others have husbands in South Sudan who are working to help their families in Uganda, which is sometimes not obvious. So women remain the breadwinners. This is a challenge for many who try their best to earn a living by doing casual work, renting land for farming, brewing the local beer or relying on the little or nothing their husbands can send. This makes it very difficult to provide for their children’s formal education, health, food and clothing. A family in Maaji is made up of relatives, but also of adopted orphaned children who were separated from their families while fleeing the war. Nowadays, life is even harder for the refugee women, as the UNHCR ratios are…
Empathy in Action: Lessons from the World Day of the Poor
Sr. Valérie Kaboré on mission in Algeria “While part of the world is condemned to live in the depths of history, while inequalities increase and the economy punishes the weakest, while society is dedicated to the idolatry of money and consumption, the poor and the marginalized often have no choice but to continue to wait (cf. Evangelii Gaudium, n. 54). … It is us whom his grace makes shine; it is our life, imbued with compassion and charity, which must become a sign of the Lord’s presence, always close to the suffering of the poor, to soothe their wounds and transform their destiny.” Link to the PDF https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2024/documents/20241117-omelia-giornatamondiale-poveri.html I feel very inspired by this quotation from Pope Francis. He recalled these words recently, on 17 November, during the World Day of the Poor. Several events and celebrations that we have experienced in these days can be linked…
Center for the promotion of Women
Sr. Elisabeth Herkommer (in the pink cardigan) taught women to produce a precise and beautiful work in kabyl embroidery. Sr. Franceline Hien from the community of Hydra/Algiers, visited Sr Elisabeth in Larbaa-Nath Iraten The presence of the White Sisters in Kabylia has had a positive impact on the population who still value our presence, as a congregation, at their side. For around twenty years our sister Elisabeth has remained alone in Larbaa-Nath Iraten where she started this Berber embroidery and sewing training center. Training at the time lasted three years, to obtain a diploma as craftsman or instructor. Several women benefited from quality training which offered them work. Currently, the center operates with 14 women (Artisans and Instructors) Sunday April 21, I went to visit the center with the intention of writing this article in honor of our sister Elisabeth without realizing that shortly afterwards she was going…
International Women’s Day in Ghana
Sr Agathe Ngendakumana shares her celebration of International Women’s Day in Gumo, Ghana It was a first in Gumo! For several months, I had dreamed of going to see the women of Gumo, to get to know them and celebrate their international day. Questions came to me from the bottom of my heart: Agathe, is this possible in Gumo? Agathe, are you ready to take a step? To risk? The answer was “Yes, Courage!” He is with you who sends you.” After a time of observation, listening and meditation, I informed my community of this project. Then I informed the women of our Christian community. They received the news very well. One of them volunteered to continue the reflection with me and find two Muslim women who would help us inform groups or small associations here in the village. I also informed Mr. James, the leader of the…
Sport and International Women’s Day in Tchad
Schoolgirls in Tchad At the Notre Dame de la Trinité school, where two of our sisters work, there was a soccer match between the girls of this school and those of another neighboring school in preparation for the International Women’s Day. On the very day of this beautiful celebration, our students demonstrated their talents through songs, poems and sketches. It was a good opportunity for women to express their desire to collaborate with men in the administration as they recognize that most people in the public service are men. This is because there are many who still have the mentality that women should be at home taking care of children and doing housework. Here is the coordinator’s message on behalf of all the women of Deli: “As a result, women were once neglected by their husbands, their brothers, their parents and even the State in decision-making, in the workplace,…
An apostolic tour looking to the future!
Sunday September 17, 2023, Spéciosa, Celina and Cécile left early in the morning for a 195 km drive. This little one-day trip was born first of all from the desire to share with Celina what our community experiences with Muslim women in the city of Kef. Also, we felt certain about something, without really knowing why and what awaited us: the certainty was that it was God who called us to take this path. Driven by this inner conviction shared as a community, we hit the road. We entrusted it to Mary through hymns and prayers, then we listened to this text: “Transformation involves listening to our deepest longings and greatest aspirations to create a new vision for the future. It requires letting go of what is no longer true, real or life-giving and listening to God’s call to new life. It is an organic, emergent, and continually itinerant…
Embracing the call
Sr. Theopista Nakamya Mbabazi, in the community of Nairobi South B, Kenya, shares her experience in the slums of Nairobi: in two encounters with women she shares how the transforming love of the Risen Lord called her to be humble and little in order to raise others up… Clementine, from Rwanda, found herself in a stressful situation in Kenya after being tricked by a stranger. She was brought to Kenya in 2017 and she has three daughters: one she left in Rwanda, another she came with to Kenya and another she gave birth to while in Kenya. Clementine had been approached by someone in her village with the offer to take her to Kenya and marry her to a well-to-do man. She agreed and once in Kenya, she was taken to Nyeri (Othaya) and joined a man in a cohabitation relationship. The man spoke a foreign language which she did…
My experience of learning Kiswahili language
By Sr. Sylviane Rouamba, community of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania As our Founder said, “To learn the language and culture of a people is to belong to that people”. This invitation from Cardinal Charles Lavigerie gives me the courage to learn Swahili with joy and love. I am delighted to share with you my experience of learning Swahili in Tanzania, in our community of Dar Es Salaam. This experience has filled my heart with happiness because it has helped me feel part of this country as if I were in my own country. I started learning Swahili on January 9, 2023. I started by learning the basics, i.e. greetings such as “Tumsifu Yesu Kristu”, the greeting used by Tanzanian Catholic Christians, “Habari za asubuhi” (good morning), “Habari za jioni” (good evening). Then I learned verbs, grammar and vocabulary. Little by little, I was able to speak, follow the conversation…