Friends journey to FWCC plenary
‘The prompts for the journey were the wish to visit projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) supported by Quaker Congo Partnership (QCP).'
Quakers started on a two-and-a-half-month journey this week to the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC)’s World Plenary Meeting in South Africa.
Catherine Putz and Mark Holtom, from Hebden Bridge Meeting, set off on 20 June to Africa, where they will be visiting Quaker allies, before arriving at the plenary in August.
Catherine Putz told the Friend that, during their travels, they hoped to put into practice the spirit of ‘Ubuntu’, the theme of the plenary. ‘The prompts for the journey were the wish to visit projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) supported by Quaker Congo Partnership (QCP), and to travel in the ministry and with hope, while reducing air miles… and there will no doubt be adventures,’ added Catherine, who is a QCP trustee.
Heading by train to Istanbul via Paris, Vienna and Bucharest, followed by flights to Ethiopia and Burundi, the pair will travel overland to South Africa, returning home from Cape Town at the end of August. In Burundi they will meet and worship with local Quakers, hearing more about their work in peacebuilding, justice and in healing trauma.
A week in DRC will be spent visiting partner projects mainly in Uvira. This will include ‘conversations with young people, who are members of youth peace committees [and] clubs in schools which seek to address gender-based violence’. They will also meet women who have small businesses in making soap, agriculture and tailoring; visit a small hospital in Abeka; and villagers of Mukwezi ‘where it is hoped cleaner running water will be installed via an extension from Abeka’.
With the QCP Special Interest Group taking place on 5 July, the Friends will also spend time with George Bani, from the Conflict Minerals Campaign, now a Quaker Recognised Body. Travelling overland through Tanzania to Dar es Salaam, they will spend a few days in Zanzibar before taking a train through Tanzania to Zambia. Finally, after Zimbabwe and Botswana, and visiting Quakers in Bulawayo, the pair will arrive at the plenary near Johannesburg, held between 5 to 12 August.
Catherine and Mark are recording reflections on their journey on an online blog: https://cathmarktravels.wordpress.com.
