Leaving No One by the Side of the Road

What lies at the core of our group’s spirit is the desire to go beyond our own interest in favour of the collective interest

by Andre Kahiro (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

I am a member of the Burhiba “supportive families” network in Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

We are known as “the group of poor families fighting poverty”. Following the teaching of Father Joseph Wresinski, we removed the term “poor” to change the name to “the families joining forces to fight poverty” because all families, not just the poorest ones, need to be involved if poverty is to be overcome.

We are responsible for visiting other people in poverty who are living in situations which are even more complex than ours. We start by telling them our story and bringing them some hope, so that they may decide to join our group. Otherwise, they risk sinking deeper into poverty. In addition, some of us visit sick people, while others repair small streets, paths and small bridges in our district, which are all damaged and in need of repair.

We regularly combine our efforts to help those who are in worse situations than our own. Our aim is to leave no one by the side of the road.

In 2013, when our group decided to support one of our members to renovate his house, I had thought that I would be chosen since my house was in a very advanced state of dilapidation. Any dog could have actually come in and taken my child. However, another name was put forward — Mr. K. who also had a house in a sorry state. Mr. K was disabled, and so was his wife. He told us: “When it rains, we have to wake up and then get up. Even if the children are asleep, we have to wake them and they have to stay up until the rain stops. Or else, we have to cover the children while they sleep with bags because the iron roof lets the water through”.

I immediately understood that he and his wife had far more problems than I did since they are disabled. I have my two legs and I can walk unlike them. I suggested to the group to help Mr. K. first and that I could be helped later.

I was overwhelmed when I said that, even if it meant having to sleep outside. It was the right thing to do to help this couple first and foremost.

I worked on the building site from start to finish. On the day we went to offer our support to Mr. K, he and the whole family were very happy. His neighbour, seeing all the support and love we brought to this family, decided to join our family support network from that time on.

What lies at the core of our group, then, is to go beyond our own interest in favour of the collective interest.