As we approach the end of the year, we have much to celebrate. I am deeply grateful for your unwavering support and the dedication of our leadership, staff, and students at Université Chrétienne Bilingue du Congo (UCBC). I am grateful for you. Together, we accomplished some remarkable things, most recently the graduation of 82 UCBC students. These are among the 419 individuals who received a transformative education this year!
As you will see below, the impact of your support is profound and it's just a glimpse of what is made possible when a community of people come together in Christ-centered faith and action to reflect light into this world.
I will never tire of sharing the story of Congo Initiative - because it is a story of hope. It is a story that points to God's peaceable Kingdom – a reminder that there is life even amidst darkness. It is a story of dedicated staff and passionate students who are being the light they want to see in this world. And it’s a story about people like YOU, accompanying them with sacrificial generosity. Thank you for standing with the rising generation in 2023.
Justin Hubbard, Congo Initiative USA Executive Director
*Photo Above: UCBC communications students
419
STUDENTS
82
new graduates
937
alumni serving their communities
“Congratulations to you, on your achievements and for choosing UCBC for your studies. Today is the crowning moment of your efforts to move into professional life. Our congratulations also go to parents, friends, and all faculty members and staff, heroes behind the curtains, thanks to whom you have made it thus far. It is now time to live what you have received from us, assured of our support, as much as possible.
We wish everyone a happy celebration!
TukoPamoja!”
Dr. Honoré Bunduki, UCBC Rector
“We have dreams, visions, and goals to achieve. We have crowns to win that sometimes seem elusive and hopeless to reach. Every day, someone or something seems to tell us, ‘Stop dreaming, stop trying; it’s too difficult for you; it’s not meant for us.’ My message today is emphatic, ‘Yes, we can.’ Whatever the challenges and obstacles, ‘Yes, you can!’ …Remember, your feet cannot go where your mind and faith have not gone first. So, never give up. Be all that God wants you to be.”
Dr. David Kasali, President and Co-Founder
Priscille is the first woman in her family to attend university and appreciates that UCBC promotes women’s education, “UCBC is a university that pushes women to have confidence and not underestimate themselves so that they can impact their communities. UCBC wants women to feel empowered to make decisions and pushes women to develop through the various activities that the institution provides.” She wants girls and women in Congo to know, “we have potential in us and we should have confidence in ourselves that we can positively impact our communities and our beloved Democratic Republic of Congo.”
"In just four years, my life drastically changed during my time at UCBC in the Computer Engineering department. Initially drawn by a passion for software development, UCBC revealed to me a broader purpose: solving real-world problems at local, national, and global levels, with software development as one of the tools.
Now, I am proud to be an agent of transformation, passionate to make a positive impact wherever my path takes me."
UCBC STUDENTS
ORNELLA
Ornella is a third year UCBC student studying communications. She hopes to become a journalist and use her skills to restore peace in her hometown of Bunia. Her experiences at UCBC have shaped her as a person. “Being at UCBC has helped me to be open and think out of the box. Before that, I was closed to myself and afraid to express what I felt in front of an audience.”
Through her classes, her work with UCBC’s radio broadcasts, and time spent working with others in groups, Ornella has discovered more about herself. Now she knows she is a changemaker. “I will be a changemaker wherever I work…promoting women is a great opportunity to develop a community because a transformed woman is a great agent of change for a nation.”
POTIENT
Potient is a second year Agribusiness student at UCBC. His dream is to one day work on food security in the DRC. Potient notes that, “the community life, wonderful teaching, smart teachers, and exceptional activities,” are what makes UCBC special. “Every moment on campus is a perfect opportunity to learn something precious for life…UCBC is not just a university, it is a transformative system for producing leaders.”
MERRY
Merry is the first person in her family to attend university. She is in her fourth year at UCBC studying economics. Merry also participates in student-led “Women’s Voices”, a group created to support female students. “Before [attending UCBC] I was a shy woman and now I can see how to develop myself, trust in myself and become me! UCBC [has taught me] to always follow my identity in Christ and…to trust in God’s words, and to become sure in the things that I do. With the Women's Voices group, we learn that each woman must trust in herself and must know that she’s able to change the world.” In Merry’s words, “I encourage women to follow their dreams, to trust in themselves and to trust in their skills because still now there are people who think that a woman's job is in the kitchen but they forget that women also have ideas to change the world.”
ADVANCING EDUCATION THROUGH TECHNOLOGY
In July 2023, UCBC unveiled two updated computer labs on campus which house 55 new computers and provide faster, more reliable internet. Access to consistent and quality technology has remained difficult in Congo and these computer labs are a huge gain for the students, faculty, and staff. The computers are part of a major technology upgrade funded by a grant from First Fruit Inc., a longtime CI partner rooted in faith and dedicated to supporting leaders and organizations in the Majority World. Before receiving this grant, UCBC had only 10 outdated computers and 20 mini computers for the entire student body to use.
ALUMNI
In October 2023, several UCBC alumni gathered at an event in Bunia. The event was part of a series of visits organized by the UCBC Development Office to strengthen alumni relations and meet with potential partners. Community is an important part of the UCBC experience and these events help strengthen the bond of UCBC alumni living and working throughout DRC.
MARC
“I would not be where I am today if not for UCBC. UCBC has transformed me and many others. It has inspired a new vision, infused in us enduring values, and equipped us to be agents of change…not only in our country, but our continent and even the world. I am evidence of the new thing God is doing.”
BUSIKA
Busike is a UCBC Agribusiness alumna. “My journey at UCBC has been shaped by community life and service. UCBC, through its various activities - academics, chapel, mentoring, service learning, work-program, women’s voices - helped me know and develop myself better. I also learned more about good resources, the environment, relationships, and time management. UCBC is a true transformative machine that has helped me acquire values, critical thinking, and the spirit of entrepreneurship. Today, I am able to create my own company to solve some problems in my community and maintain myself [well] in the business world. For those who want to make positive changes in their academic and professional lives, UCBC is the right choice.”
ESAÏE
Esaïe studied communications at UCBC and began his career as a political journalist. Because of his job, he was forced to leave the DRC and experienced many hardships. Esaïe notes that the DRC Realities course at UCBC helped prepare him for life. “In that course, we were taught to turn challenges into opportunities. And we were also taught the entrepreneurial spirit, to start something [new].”
Since returning to Congo, Esaïe has indeed been able to start something. He is now the CEO of Congo Life in Bunia and Hope Clinic in Beni. His work with Congo Life is particularly impactful to the medical sector in DRC - they repair and install medical machines, and offer training to doctors on how to use them. Through networking, his business has grown to serve doctors and medical professionals in the Ituri and North Kivu provinces. Esaïe notes that DRC is not always an easy place to work. “There are many challenges…insecurity doesn't allow us to work well.” But he has taken what he learned at UCBC to heart - to turn challenges into opportunities, to use his entrepreneurial spirit to start something new.
ADVANCED STUDIES PROGRAM
19 UCBC faculty and staff members are fully financially supported for their Masters or PhD programs this year. This is the largest cohort we have ever had at one time participating in the Advanced Studies Program. With this progress, we are on target to have 22 total graduates by the end of 2025 and 29 by the end of 2026!
Viviane Bibuya Bwirabuli is pursuing a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership at Africa International University in Nairobi.
"As a student of Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership, I had the opportunity to learn about various leadership theories and practices from some of the best minds in the field. I realized that leadership is not just about giving orders or delegating tasks, but it's about inspiring and empowering individuals to work towards a common goal. It's about creating a positive work culture where everyone feels valued and motivated to give their best. This experience taught me that leadership is not something that can be learned solely through textbooks and lectures. It requires practical experience and the willingness to learn from mistakes. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from both the classroom and the real world, and I look forward to applying these lessons in my future career."
PRIMARY EDUCATION
Quality, equitable education breaks cycles of poverty and war. It also fosters gender equity, empowers people to live more healthy and sustainable lives, and is crucial to fostering tolerance and peacebuilding.
-UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL FOUR
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES
SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RELIEF FOR THE INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE
HOLISTIC FAMILY DEVELOPMENT CENTER
The construction on the new Holistic Family Development Center building was completed in April 2023. A joyful dedication ceremony was held on the campus to commemorate the occasion. UCBC Rector, Honoré Bunduki, was at the celebration and took part in the tree planting – a UCBC tradition to mark something new.
Over 250 women and children benefit from vocational training and education at HFD.
JUSTICE INITIATIVE
In March 2023, the Justice Initiative hosted its 6th International Justice Conference at UCBC. At least 120 law students and legal professionals (including 40 women) attended the International Justice Conference in March 2023. An estimated 1,400 listeners tuned in to sessions by radio and 1,000 tuned in on facebook live.
In October 2023, UCBC law professor, Sandra Nyandulu, along with two law students (Grace, center; Freddy, right) attended the iPeace Great Lakes Regional Training in Kigali. The annual conference brings together law professionals and students from DRC, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda, and Kenya, and focuses on human rights and international humanitarian law.
NATURAL RESOURCE GOVERNANCE
Natural Resource Governance creates a more equitable land management system, especially for women and youth. The team hosts community dialogue and mediation workshops in various regions of the country. Over 8,000 people participated in workshops in Nyunzu Territory in 2022-2023! Of that number, 4,691 were women. It’s estimated that over 500 women’s land rights were secured by being digitally mapped through this process.
ASANTE
Asante Sana (“thank you very much”) for providing pathways of hope, healing, and renewal. We, as a Congo Initiative community, give thanks for your support, prayers, and for standing with the rising generation in Congo. As we look ahead to 2024, we invite you to visit our new website to be inspired by the story we are writing together in Congo.