Previously, despite us being able to continue to meet with the Mothers’ Union team in South Sudan due to the issues faced by Christians visiting Sudan, we have had difficulties actually being able to physically travel there. Mama Reida, the MU Community Development Coordinators (CDC’s) in Khartoum greeted us on our first morning, “We thought you’d never come again” was a phrase mentioned regularly.
Desiderata is one of our Literacy Trainers in Burundi and has been with the programme since it began. Desiderata’s work for Mothers’ Union includes training and supporting the literacy facilitators, monitoring and evaluating the impact of the programme and developing and supporting post-literacy initiatives.
Blending biblical reflection and community action produces a powerful mix. That’s the experience of Mothers’ Union with the ‘Eagle’ initiative. The underlying principle is that dependency on aid isn’t necessary, and that communities have under-used resources. So churches are motivating congregations and communities in a process of ‘self-driven change’. ‘Through Eagle we’re changing attitudes,’ said volunteer coordinator Ida Basalivwa, ‘developing positive thinking about ourselves and others – and using our eyes to see what we already have around us.’
CHANGING MINDSETS
