The Maman Shujaa Get Face Time with U.S. Special Envoy
Feb 26, 2020
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The Maman Shujaa were honored with a visit from the U.S. Special Envoy, Tom Perriello, to the Bukavu Center today. He toured our office, got an overview of our operations, why we were founded, our purpose and mission, and then sat down with the Maman Shujaa for some face time.
The various Maman Shujaa representatives shared their domains of intervention, their struggles and their successes. Special Envoy Perriello listened intently, asked questions of the grassroots leaders, and took notes of their responses. The Maman Shujaa felt a real sense of connection with SE Perriello and were quite impressed with his listening ear and engagement.
The Special Envoy asked what hardships the Maman Shujaa faced trying to do their work?
Of course finances were the number one issue, but that and most every other hindrance was largely attributed to the highly patriarchal system of Congolese society. It was conveyed that even the province’s Civil Society is an association run by men for men. In politics there is a “gender segregation” created by the male leadership and members of the political parties. Personal security becomes an issue for any woman aspiring to work, the woman being viewed as rebellious and entering into things where they have no right – especially politics.
The Maman Shujaa grassroots leaders spoke proudly of the small strides they are making and their determined struggle to continue forward. They convincingly portrayed their passion for their causes, their resilience against all odds, and their desire to be able to increase their effectiveness.
When some young Maman Shujaa were asked what message the Special Envoy should take back to President Obama, their answer seemed more directed to the First Lady and her ‘Let Girls Learn’ campaign: “We need school fees so we can go to university.”
The U.S. Special Envoy’s meeting with the Maman Shujaa was certainly a fine way to start 2016. May this meeting be only our First, and may it lead to the goal we’ve had in mind since we submitted our Petition for his appointment: Peace in Congo – with Women at the table negotiating what that future will look like.
