François Kamate Kasereka. Towards Climate Education
He speaks about his region, North Kivu, and notes that it has been a land in conflict for over 30 years. He highlights his campaigns: “Debt for Climate” and “Adopt a Tree, Not a Weapon.” My activism was born out of indignation. It stems from the anger and frustration I felt regarding everything I witnessed […]
Herbs & Plants. Hyptis spicigera (Black Beni Seed)
This traditional plant is widely known and used across parts of tropical Africa. It has a long history of use as both a food source and a medicine among many African communities. Due to the way its seeds are prepared and consumed, Hyptis spicigera (Black Beni Seed) is sometimes referred to as a ‘proto-sesame’. In […]
Senegal. Dakar’s Healthcare Excellence
The historic Institut Pasteur in the Senegalese capital produces vaccines against formidable diseases such as yellow fever and conducts cutting-edge research on epidemics threatening African populations. Dakar, the capital of Senegal, boasts a centre of excellence for the study and treatment of infectious diseases: the Institut Pasteur, a private, non-profit Senegalese foundation established in 1896 […]
Vocation Story. Challenges became opportunities.
“From a young village boy who simply wanted to see a priest, I have become a Comboni missionary priest serving the people of God”. Father Emmanuel Likonye from Malawi shares with us the vocation journey. I was born and raised in a Catholic family of five children. Growing up in humble conditions, I never imagined […]
Mission diary. The beauty of encounters.
Brother Simone Bauce, a Comboni missionary, recounts his experiences in Latin America, primarily among the Macuxi and Uapixana indigenous peoples in the Brazilian Amazon. How wonderful it is to encounter people! What a wonderful experience- enabling me to get to know others, to discover their cultures, viewpoints, and their uniqueness! I have been a missionary […]
Advocacy & People. Alannah Acaq Hurley. Protecting Alaskan forests.
Acting on behalf of 15 tribal nations, Yup’ik leader Alannah Acaq Hurley led a campaign that stopped the proposed Pebble Mine megaproject in Alaska’s Bristol Bay region. Located off the southwestern coast of Alaska, Bristol Bay and its watershed contain 25 million acres of pristine forests, wild rivers, lush wetlands, tundra, and biodiverse ecosystems stewarded […]
Herbs & Plants. Cabbage, a powerful healing plant
Cabbage is a leafy green, red or white biennial vegetable grown annually. This cruciferous vegetable belongs to plant family brassicaceae and is round or oval in shape. It consists of soft, light green or whitish inner leaves covered with harder and dark green outer leaves. Cabbage belongs to the group of cole crops and hence […]
People & Culture. The Cultural Significance of Curses in Africa
A curse originates from a harmful intention or wish, which can diminish another person’s vital force and dismantle the unity of the elements that comprise them. If the person wishing evil is part of the life force circle, this dismantling is seen as taking place from within. This is achieved in two stages. First, the […]
Mission Diary. Egypt. Living without prejudices
Sister Valeria Ruiz Sanchez Armida, a Comboni missionary, lives in Aswan, Egypt, and is a teacher. “In our school, we are building the future of Egypt and the dream of a more just humanity.” I have lived in Egypt for four years, specifically in the Aswan mission. The context is very different from that of […]
Mission Diary. Ecuador. Living in hope with the Afro-American people.
Brother Alberto Degan, a Comboni missionary, worked at the Afro-American Cultural Centre in Guayaquil, Ecuador. His mission was to bear witness to the Gospel, live in fraternity and help the Afro-American people become protagonists of their own history. The Afro Cultural Centre in Guayaquil was founded by the Comboni Missionaries in 1980. It was the […]