James Kataliko

James and a fellow CSCODI worker met us at the Kikyo Centre and we learned the unfortunate news that Dorcas was at the hospital with her ill husband. Patients are not fed by the hospital, so family needs to be nearby. We wanted to talk with her and others with CSCODI about the priorities at the orphanage which we could best help with. With our hired car and driver, we went to meet her husband at the hospital. He is a Baptist minister (CBCA) and president at a nearby Bible college. He is recovering well but it undoubtedly was a huge encouragement for him.

Rev Kasereka Kiharami Emmanuel and his wife Dorcas

James then took us to a meeting for local youth. He is the leader but has ten volunteers to help lead what could be described as a youth drop in centre. They teach the youth about issues such as teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, the menstrual cycle and AIDS. Did I say this was in Butembo and not in Waterloo? James asked us to say a few words and it turned into an hour long Q&A. There were about 50 teens. Their main focus was how to find a job. Several wanted to marry our similar aged daughters. Michael said they would have to come to Canada to woo them.

Michael speaking to the youth

Butembo youth centre

We invited our car load (5 including ourselves) to the Kikyo Centre for dinner. I’m told that Congolese never turn down free food. At the Centre, Saasita (Head of the School for the Orphans as well as the new CSCODI Women’s Microfinancing program) plus two other women (who all must have heard about the free food). We had met Ruth in 2008 and notably Brenda was excited to see Ruth and her one year old baby. We brought Saasista clothing for her baby (she was pregnant in 2008 and it was an unfulfilled Brenda promise to send a baby gift) plus a new camera we bought for the microfinancing program. They idea is for Saasita to be able to send photos of women seeking an initial loan so there can develop a connection with the original funder.