Benedictine Sisters of Kinshasa – Tree of Life (DRC) [May 2026]

Project #26M025

The Tree of Life community was founded in 1997 by the Benedictine community of Saint-Sauveur (Lubumbashi) and is part of the ‘Queen of the Apostles’ congregation. It is a branch of the Benedictine Abbey of Rixensart (Belgium).

The community has a fruit orchard and grows food crops. Young boys work with the community and are thus able to pay for their schooling; thanks to her work with the sisters, a woman can also pay her rent. The vegetables are bought at a modest price by local women, who then resell them. This enables them to pay for their children’s medical care. The community also provides drinking water to the neighbouring population via a borehole (125 metres deep). In 2014, a health centre was built.

Project:

Sister Mathilde is studying for a Master’s degree in Psychology and Educational Science at Saint-Augustin University in Kinshasa. Sister Mathilde will then take over as headteacher of the school, teach classes and provide psychological support to the pupils. She will also mentor those considering a life in religious orders. Financial assistance is needed to cover the enrolment fees.

Financial assistance: 2,492 euros