Pisa, July 12, 2025
Life continues at Maison Msaada….
Dear friends and supporters,
I have been waiting to send updates because I was heartily hoping to say hello from Mwenga this July.
Unfortunately, my return to the project, which I had hoped might be possible this month, could not materialize because of the great insecurity that persists in Kivu and in particular along Route Nationale N. 2, the road that connects Bukavu to Mwenga, still the terrain of conflict between M23 and Wazalendo (a name assigned to different armed resistance groups, of different origins, and operating with different intentions) as well as the scene of almost daily ambushes and robberies against poor, infrequent travelers. Along this road lies the border between M23-controlled territory and Wazalendo-controlled territory, which has managed to curb its advance.
However, I would like to inform you that the activities at Maison Msaada, in Mwenga, continue, thanks to the commitment and dedication of our staff, especially Angelo, educator and now also project manager, joined by Wabiwa and Mamie (the two cooks), and Mbale and Basubi, the two new caretakers and gardeners. Dr. Darock, the co-founder of the project as well as president of our association Msaada kwa Wanyonge, has (unfortunately) recently been transferred to Kamituga to head the large local hospital, but he will continue to help us from there and sign the project documents as well as assist with the recruitment of the children, mostly from Kamituga. In any case, in the dry season travel between Kamituga and Mwenga should not be difficult. This may also facilitate my future collaboration with the pediatrics and neonatology of Kamituga Hospital, which is currently in a state of great neglect.
Angelo is currently in Bukavu for two weeks for his well-deserved vacation, which will actually be devoted to composing some songs he had long had in the works and making the respective videos (quite a difficult task given the difficulty and cost of traveling even to the city). The journey from Mwenga to Bukavu was also difficult and very risky for him: as he said, “Il faut avoir un grand coeur pour faire ce que je suis en train de faire.” He arranged well with the other helpers so that the children would not lack anything during his short absence.
I would like to update you on the activities implemented during these long months of my absence (but assiduous remote involvement):
- We welcomed 4 new children, (one girl and three boys)
- Sewing workshops for the 13 girl mothers and our children continued, culminating in a final exam (after 6 months of the course for the girls and 8 for the children) at the end of June. We are in the process of organizing an advanced course for the girls who passed the exam and other possible new girls starting in August, which we would also like to combine with a new basic course.
- We have enhanced agricultural activities through the lease of ca. one hectare of land near the house, preceded by the cultivation of a smaller plot lent to us by the village chief. Activities are currently underway to prepare the land for planting (mainly cassava, a local staple food)
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- We have continued with the care and follow-up provided to epileptic children in the community, with home visits every 2 weeks. We are currently following 3 children, a 15-year-old girl and a young woman; the latter two will participate in the next sewing workshop starting in August. All of them, thanks to the antiepileptic drugs we provide, now have rare or absent seizures and can participate in family activities.
The children will continue with school until the beginning of August (unfortunately, classes have been very spotty over the past few months, but they have benefited during the long breaks from the lessons taught by Angelo), so they will be able to help with camp activities.
Unfortunately, the difficulties are many also because of the considerable-increase in the price of food and all goods, both in Bukavu but even more so in Mwenga, because of the difficulties of transportation (the road is full of checkpoints where every vehicle has to pay not a little to go on), so we have been forced to make many restrictions on food and basic materials. In addition, the persistent closure of banks in Bukavu makes it difficult each time to send money, but so far, each month, we have always succeeded by leaning now on one now on another organization or mission that have opened accounts in Rwanda near the border with Bukavu. I am infinitely grateful to these people who have helped us, otherwise I don’t know how we could have done it!
Once again I would like to thank all of you for having contributed to the realization of these projects and to the continuation of the activities despite the great difficulties in which we find ourselves, together with the entire population of Kivu. If we have managed to continue, if we have not closed the doors of Maison Msaada, if our children are doing well and growing up peacefully, it is also thanks to your valuable support!
Kind regards to all, hoping to write to you from Mwenga in the near future.
Ilaria
PS those who would like to listen to Angelo’s new songs, a sign of hope, courage and resilience for a country plagued by so much war, will be able to find them starting at the end of August on his Youtube channel “Angelo du Ciel”
