The Presbyterian Church of Kinshasa develops programs to address HIV and AIDS

A woman working dough for the fermented manioc, an income-generting project. Photo by Caryl Weinberg.

The Presbyterian Church of Kinshasa (CPK) has been a partner church of the PC(USA) since 1960 in the metropolitan area of Kinshasa and the western provinces of Lower-Congo and Bandundu. The CPK has many programs to address HIV and AIDS such as Bible Studies and Income-Generating Activities.

Bible Studies

The CPK is creating AIDS-related Bible studies that will be published this year. Church members have been working in small groups in conjunction with Sally Ivaska of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. The process has been a real journey, starting with focus and discussion groups talking about AIDS, its causes, consequences and challenges in the community, local church and family. Through open and honest discussions with men and women of all ages, the CPK selected almost 40 themes to study in the Bible having to do with AIDS-related issues. The CPK narrowed these themes into three categories of related subjects:

1. Sexuality,
2. Church, tradition and culture,
3. The church and HIV/AIDS.

A group of women holding fermented manioc that they will sell at the market. The Department of Women and Families Center for the Presbyterian Church in Kinshasa (DRC) developed the project for income generation to help feed families and for HIV prevention. Photo by Caryl Weinberg.

The Bible studies group, which represented all people in the church, almost unanimously chose to start with the theme of sexuality. This meant that they wanted to study issues such as Christian marriage, living the single life and immorality and Church discipline. They are so excited to think that they might be able to change life in the church. The group is determined to start with leaders in the churches because they believe change needs to start with them. The studies will be written in French and Lingala, the languages used most throughout the regions where the CPK has ministry. Lingala is significant because this is a key factor in making these studies accessible to women.

Income Generating Activities

In Kinshasa the CPK is responding to the physical need of hunger and lack of income through a micro-loan project organized by the women’s department. There are currently 14 income-generation groups of five to six women each. The groups are made up of women, some of whom have HIV, some are widows and some are healthy women who have no means to feed and educate their families. The women feel this project addresses a need caused by AIDS — poverty — and at the same time provides a way to prevent AIDS — through giving women a means to earn income for their families.

The group writing the Bible studies on AIDS-related subjects for the Presbyterian Church in Kinshasa. Sally Ivaska from International Fellowship of International Students who is guiding the process stands second from left and Caryl Weinberg kneels second from left. Photo by Caryl Weinberg.

Each group has been trained to produce some product, such as fermented manioc, salted fish, charcoal and soap. Then each group is given a loan of 150 dollars to start their work. The group buys their supplies, makes the product and then sells their products either as a group or individually. The groups pay back the money in installments at regular intervals. As one group pays back the 150 dollars another group is trained in all aspects of buying and selling, in addition to AIDS education. The women’s department monitors them and gives necessary technical and spiritual support. The women are proud and grateful and feel they have concrete hope for their lives and the lives of their families.