Source of Life

LOCATED in the semi-urban area of Kisantu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Source of Life Training Centre was established by the Sisters of Saint Mary of Kisantu to address the needs of disadvantaged youth. Its mission is to provide vocational training and equip young people, particularly girls, with the skills needed to achieve self-reliance and reintegrate into society.

Kisantu is situated in the Diocese of Kisantu, and has a population of 3 million, mostly under the age of 35. It faces significant socioeconomic challenges, as many families in this semi-urban area rely on subsistence farming or poorly paid government jobs, resulting in widespread poverty. These conditions leave many young people, especially girls, vulnerable to school dropout, early motherhood, and social neglect. Recognizing these hardships, the Sisters of Saint Mary of Kisantu established the Source of Life Training Centre in 1997 to provide practical training and a pathway to self-reliance for disadvantaged youth.

Founded in 1940, the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Mary of Kisantu is a Religious Institute of Diocesan Right committed to education, health care, and agro-pastoral development. Over decades, they have dedicated their efforts to serving marginalized communities, prioritizing young people who have been neglected or abandoned, and those impacted by the multifaceted crises facing the region. “Our pastoral mission became formalized as, over the years, the progressive deterioration of the socio-economic fabric of the country deprived young people of their fundamental rights, such as education, health, and protection,” explains Sister Sophie Mazumbu, the project leader. The Source of Life Centre embodies this mission, offering young people from the ages of 14 to 22 a chance to achieve self-reliance and dignity.

18-month program

The Centre offers an 18-month program divided into three 6-month stages. It trains students in tailoring, pastry-making and hairdressing & aesthetics, providing them with marketable skills to sustain themselves. Participants receive a certificate upon completing the program, which validates their expertise and prepares them for the workforce. Since its establishment in 1997, the Source of Life centre has trained over 1,422 youths, enabling many to secure employment or start businesses outside Kisantu. In 2024, the Centre served 85 students: tailoring with 49 students (exclusively girls), hairdressing & aesthetics with 20 students, and pastry-making with 16 students. Training is supported by a dedicated staff of eight, including a coordinator, a director, four trainers, an instructor, and a security guard. Their collective efforts ensure the students receive comprehensive, practical education.

€8,700 granted

By 2023 the Centre faced a significant obstacle: its outdated and insufficient equipment. With only 15 unreliable sewing machines available, many students could not engage in hands-on learning, undermining the quality of their training. To overcome this challenge, the Sisters of Saint Mary presented a detailed proposal to St. Anthony’s Charities. The project aimed to modernize the Centre’s resources by purchasing 45 new sewing machines, 2 embroidery machines, and 2 overlock machines (used for fabric edge finishing). This investment would increase the number of sewing machines to 60, ensuring that every trainee had access to a machine. The total project cost was €12,400, with €3,700 contributed by local sources and €8,700 requested from St. Anthony’s Charities.

The project funding was approved, and the first instalment received in July 2024, allowing the Centre to purchase 15 manual sewing machines, 7 pedal sewing machines, 1 embroidery machine, and 1 overlock machine – roughly half of the required inventory. Despite some delays in accessing the funds, the equipment was successfully transported to Kisantu, installed, and utilized for training. The second instalment allowed the Centre to purchase the remaining equipment, completing the project by mid-August 2024. The staff also received training in operating and maintaining the new machines, ensuring the equipment’s longevity and effectiveness.

The project’s impact has been transformative. For the first time, every student has access to their own machine during practical sessions. This hands-on training has significantly improved the quality of education and empowered the students to work independently. The Centre’s upgraded resources have empowered 85 students, including 41 school dropouts and single mothers, 17 girls abandoned by their families, and 27 orphans. The project’s success extended beyond the Centre. By producing high-quality garments, the Centre now plans to generate income, ensuring its sustainability and capacity to train future cohorts. The Kisantu community also benefits, as the project reduces juvenile delinquency and strengthens the empowerment of young women.

Heartfelt letters

The success of the project is perhaps best expressed by the trainees themselves. In heartfelt letters to St. Anthony’s Charities, they have shared how the new machines have changed their lives.

Fifteen-year-old Christine writes, “Last year, we couldn’t do much practical work because the Centre didn’t have enough machines. This year, we’re all happy because all of us have our own machine. Thank you, St. Anthony’s Charities, for giving the Centre the money to buy more machines for us. Everything is going well now, and we are receiving quality training. May God bless you.”

Another letter from Fifi highlights the significance of the changes, “In the first stages of my training, we didn’t use machines much because there weren’t enough. Previously, students only had theoretical lessons because of the lack of machines. But now, the training has greatly improved. Thanks to the machines provided, our training has become strong, and we are now capable of working independently. Please don’t abandon us, the young girls affected by social injustices in our country. May God always support you.”

“This sewing machine project funded by St. Anthony’s Charities is an effective solution to the challenges we faced,” concludes Sr. Sophie. “It has increased the number of machines, allowing each trainee to have their own during practice, which significantly enhances the learning process. With these modern machines, the Centre can now produce high-quality garments, attracting more clients and boosting our sustainability. On behalf of the entire congregation, the Reverend Mother Superior General, all beneficiaries, and myself, we extend our deepest gratitude to the readers of the Messenger of Saint Anthony and St. Anthony’s Charities. We hope to continue collaborating with you to further support young people living in poverty and without hope for a better future.”