Masi-ma-Nimba
Helping our brothers and sisters in the democratic republic of congo
Masi-ma-nimba appeal 2026
Photos 1 and 2 - Grace and Hervé are children who had been abandoned.
Photo 2 - Hélène is deaf and dumb. She had never been to school. Her mother is dead and her father didn't think she was worth anything. She never went to school, simply wandering around the neighbouring villages putting her in danger of physical and mental abuse. Money raised as allowed her to go a specialist school where the nuns have been very good to her. After a difficult start and nearly dying from a severe illness, she is doing very well. The headteacher feels she may learn to speak in time. She's 12 years old.
Photo 4 - This little girl's parents are both dead.
The Schools
Videos of the children in the new classrooms sending a thank you. Please note that there are no windows. The Passionist Fathers in UK paid for the building of the second building and sent extra money for the finishing touches. For previous, fuller reports on the schools see further down the page.
Hélène
The first picture is Hélène when she arrived at the school. Her only belongings were two dresses in a little bag. The second photo was after the Headteacher took her shopping. Luckily I (Moyra) had sent the $200 for her board and an extra $100 for toiletries and necessities. That was the cost for one term. Plus $50 for her father to take her the long journey to the school. Luckily the pupils stay at school until the end of the school year.
smile
Sister Astrid wrote to me about a baby born with a cleft palate. His mother, a young unmarried girl, was thinking of abandoning him as her only way out of the situation. I was able to tell Sister Astrid about the charity SMILE which operates in Kinshasa. Another nun there contacted them and they said they would accept the baby for treatment. I was able to send $100 to pay for the baby, his mother and grandmother to travel to Kinshasa. It's amazing what difference a relatively small sum can make in the lives of that family.
The Schools at Masi-ma-Nimba
For several years, the parish of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart has supported the community of Masi-ma-Nimba in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Through the Passionist Sisters, the parish in Herne Bay and the incredible support of the English Passionist Province, the change in the quality of life has been dramatic. Below, you will see some of the latest videos and photos from the new school building project. Here, Moyra Feathers shares the story so far.
In 2007, the Headteacher of the school approached me for help. We had been in contact because a friend of mine had been deported to Kinshasa and I had asked the Passionist Sisters for help for him. Sister Astrid told me about the great need for new buildings for the school and the maternity clinic which the sisters also run. I started fundraising in our parish and we raised the money first to improve the conditions in the maternity clinic, just a filthy hut before we sent money for improvements, then a seven classroom secondary school was built and equipped.
Last year, Sister Astrid approached me again, this time about the Primary School. She told me she needed $40000. The Government inspectors were talking about closing down the school because the buildings, actually the Parish hall, were too cramped and there was no furniture. Children sat on the floor and used slates. The only equipment was a blackboard. I found this large sum daunting.
We had raised the money for the Secondary classrooms bit by bit, now we needed it all at once. Father Mark, as always, came to the rescue. He has arranged for the English Passionists to give the money for the school. The construction is now underway (August 2021) and they hope to be using the new school by November or earlier. The benches will also be made on site, with wood floated down the river and carried up to the School by the parents.
I can’t emphasise enough what the development of the Secondary School has meant for the village. They were the poorest people in the district and now have new opportunities for their children, especially the girls. Fees have to be paid for school enrolment and exam fees. Uniform is also required. Some families can’t afford that so any monies I am given now by Parishioners I send for those purposes. Some of the children are orphans or from single parent families. What we send makes all the difference and we welcome single donations or direct debits (contact Moyra via the parish office, if you feel able to help).
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