A newly released documentary “Maisha: A New Life Oustide the Mines” connects the story of a Good Shepherd Sisters’ project in Kolwezi, located in the DRC’s mineral-rich Katanga region and its great results, with the larger picture of human rights violations in the mining sector and the international advocacy work of many NGOs to change this situation.  The film was launched in Rome on Thursday, October 29, 2015

Here are links to an interviews with Italian and US Media

Italian:

English – go to 13.20 an interview with Sr Brigid Lawlor.

Vatican Radio also did a piece.   The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See sponsored the film and at the screening Ambassador Hackett told Susy Hodges why there is an urgent need for greater awareness and transparency about the global supply chain of “digital” minerals and about the horrific exploitation of these miners in the DRC.    Read and hear more here

Congratulation to the Sisters Catherine, Jane, Margaret and all Mission Partners in Kolwezi who day by day journey with the local community in making a difference.  The support of the  Fondazione Internazionale Buon Pastore ONLUS towards the mission under the leadership of Cristina Duranti is admirable.  One advocacy point in the Statement of the Good Shepherd International Justice Peace Office to the Commission for Social Development is 

• Launch the ambitious, forward-thinking and sustainable policies required for a paradigm shift by challenging current models and policies of economic development, trade agreements, land grabbing, extractivism and engaging with models of economic development that democratize ownership of resources and economic gains, and solidarity-based forms of ownership and management.