People get ready: KAIROS delegation to DRC
– Peter Lamont
Excitement is building among the delegates for our departure Sunday as part of KAIROS’ Women of Courage delegation to the Democratic Republic of Congo. I think we have prepared well for the meetings and events on our busy two-week itinerary, but for me personally this will be my first time visiting this part of the world, and advance preparation can only prepare you to a point!
Preparation has included briefings from Canadian civil society organizations who work with partner organizations in the DRC — including Development and Peace, Entraide Missionaire, Nobel Women’s Initiative and Partnership Africa Canada — as well as Canadian government officials.
I expect to learn about many daunting challenges facing the people of the eastern DRC, especially the difficult circumstances of many Congolese women suffering conflict-related gender-based violence. And after returning home I will be trying to educate and inform Canadians, as well as our governments and industry, about what our delegation will have seen and experienced, and thereby in some measure to give a voice to the voiceless.
I hope you will follow our blog which we will update daily (almost!) during our time in the DRC.
Peter Lamont is a member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Ottawa. He trained and practiced as a criminal lawyer and will retire this summer after 10 years of service as a military judge in the Canadian Forces. Peter is representing the Presbyterian Church in Canada on the KAIROS delegation to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
