On visits to the different regions of the Congregation, members of the General Leadership Team are given the opportunity to see the sisters working closely with people. Developing a love for and an ability to walk with the poor is at the heart of our formation and there are many opportunities for sisters to do this in the areas we live and work.
Shimungalu with a population of about 5,000, is a remote fishing village on the banks of the Kafue River. It is a beautiful place situated 13km away from our convent in Nakambala Sugar Estate. There is no tarred road to the village and accessing it can be difficult, especially during the rainy season.
In 1996 the Sisters opened a small school in Shimungalu, teaching pupils in the open. Today, in collaboration with the Government and other donors, including Misean Cara, a fine building has been erected with eleven classrooms, as well as houses for the teachers posted there by the Government. Currently there are more than 700 pupils enrolled and the school offers both a morning and afternoon session in order to cater for the numbers, empowering the young boys and girls of the village to face life’s challenges with determination.
On a recent visit to Shimungalu by a member of the General Leadership Team, the pupils of the Primary School recited a poem expressing their gratitude for the work of the Sisters. ‘Give to the Poor what the Rich can buy with money’ is an attitude of mind that was at heart of Mary Aikenhead’s vision. In this short video clip below, the beautiful pupils of Shimungalu tell how this vision of Mary Aikenhead became a reality in Shimungalu.
