Alexia Grousson
The Congolese Community of the Hamilton region (CCH) held its annual general meeting on Saturday, December 7, at the Rafiki Centre to present its review of the past year and its activities. To thank the board of directors for its work, a certificate of excellence and a keepsake were presented to Jean-Jacques Somwe, Sarah Alangi, Erlinde Mulumba, Donat Lumpatshie and Nancy Mwinda Tshibola.
Over the year, the CCH took part in or organized the following activities: Africa Day in May, a gala evening celebrating the anniversary of Congo’s independence in June, the Afro Jazz festival in July and a holiday evening in December.
The Congolese community also organized activities for seniors to help them break out of isolation, such as health walks followed by barbecues, and coordinated a range of discussions, including one entitled French in Our Homes.
Before closing the annual meeting, President Jean-Jacques Somwe spoke about a project to ensure the lasting presence of Congolese culture: “The board of directors has proposed a plan to preserve our culture. We are convinced that building a cultural centre in the heart of Hamilton would be a solution to this challenge.” The long-term goal would be to invest in young people and increase the capacity to manage operations through regular funding.
Finally, Mr. Somwe, in office since 2018, announced that he was handing over the presidency of the organization to Nancy Muinda Tshibola, executive director of the CCH. With degrees in psychology and special education, she works with students who have learning and adjustment difficulties and behavioural disorders. In 2019, she founded a non-profit organization whose mission is to help vulnerable people in various sectors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“These years at your side have been marked by challenges, victories and a collective determination to build a strong, caring community. Together, we overcame difficult times such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and we created memorable moments. Thanks to you, the young people in our community are more involved and the CCH’s visibility is growing. A new chapter is beginning for the organization, but I will stay close to support certain projects and keep working for our community,” the outgoing president concluded on social media.
Photo (CCH): Participants at the general meeting of the Congolese Community of Hamilton at the Rafiki Centre.
Source: Le régional.com
