Joy of Companion Partners the 'Single Best Thing'

Returning to the Synod Office this week, Bishop Stephen London, shared with diocesan staff that the “single best thing” about his recent visit to our companion Diocese of Buye in Burundi, Africa was “the sheer joy” expressed by Anglicans through singing and dancing.

Everywhere he and the Rev. Stephanie London traveled, even in Bigomo, one of the hardest parishes to access, “Hundreds of people lined both sides of the road, singing welcome songs and tossing flowers on the windshield. (You can watch a video of this on Facebook). They were so grateful we were there,” he says.

Bishop Stephen was “amazed” to see the scope of the impact of the Edmonton diocese’s support. Focused on evangelism, education and health, Buye diocese has established departments for addressing development, gender-based violence, reconciliation, youth and theological education.

In Mwumba parish, the Londons observed the work of the Mother’s Union (MU), led by Archbishop Sixbert Macumi’s wife Clotilde, MU President, and Canon Bibiane, MU Chaplain. They distributed the medical cards purchased by members of the Edmonton diocese during coffee-hour appeals hosted by parishes every fall. With a medical card, people are eligible to save 80 percent of the cost of healthcare, which would otherwise have been inaccessible.

The Mother’s Union empowers women and families worldwide through literacy and development programs. In Burundi, they invite women to Literacy Circles where they pray together and work through problems in their communities using the problem tree method. 

“The facilitator draws a tree on the board, and they first look at the roots of the problem they are discussing. Then they look to the branches that represent the consequences flowing from the root issues. They then turn to a solution tree in which they do the same analysis. The roots are the ways in which they can deal with the problem, and the branches are what the community would look like with the better roots…”

Bishop Stephen was further “amazed” by the savings programs administered by the Mother’s Union. Members are put into savings collectives of 25 women. Every member contributes 100 francs (5 cents Canadian) into a basket which becomes a community fund. 

“If you get sick or have some kind of hardship, the community uses the fund to help you. Then, every member can buy a share in another fund. This is microfinancing. Every share is 1,000 francs (50 cents Canadian). People can put in anywhere from one to five shares depending on what they have. This is still their money, but the community combines it to make micro-loans to members. 

“One woman told us about how she used a loan to buy and raise young goats which she sells to make a profit. Another bought a goat for its manure manure which increased her crop yields. She was then able to buy a second goat and expand her business…” This project is much appreciated because without assets these women would not have qualified for bank loans. 

The Mother’s Union’s work to empower women benefits entire communities.

Read more about these good works, and view pictures and videos on the Bishop’s Facebook page.