Church Participates in Initiative to Support Women Market Gardeners in the DRC

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On Saturday, May 2, 2026  the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took part in the closing ceremony of Women’s Month, organized in the Tshangu District in eastern Kinshasa, in tribute to women market gardeners who are key contributors to food security and local economic development.

This activity, organized by the non-governmental organization (NGO) TRACT (Rural Workers in Action), was held under the national theme: “Guaranteed Rights: Sustainable Empowerment for All Women and Girls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.” It brought together women market gardeners, technical trainers, community leaders, and partners committed to promoting women’s empowerment.

In opening the ceremony, Ms. Agnès Kangala, President of TRACT, expressed her gratitude to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for its continued support of this initiative. She emphasized that this assistance made it possible to hold the training workshop and strengthened the hope of the women beneficiaries.

“We thank The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for its commitment and selfless love toward market-gardener women. This partnership contributes concretely to our empowerment,” she said.

President Nestor Otshudi Nkosso of the Kinshasa Mapela Stake  encouraged the participants to persevere in their daily work. He highlighted the importance of honest labor, self-reliance, and service to the community, noting that market gardening directly contributes to family well-being and to feeding the city of Kinshasa.

He also recalled a fundamental spiritual principle:

“For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.”
(Doctrine and Covenants 104:17)

In the same spirit, agricultural tools—including machetes, hoes, rakes and other equipment—along with certificates of recognition were distributed to the market-gardener mothers to support their efforts and strengthen their productive capacity.

The day also featured training sessions focused on sustainable agricultural practices and financial management. Participants received guidance on the use of natural fertilizers adapted to their environment, as well as on the importance of community savings through solidarity-based mechanisms such as internal savings and loan groups.

Through its participation in this activity, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reaffirmed its commitment to supporting initiatives that promote self-reliance, dignity, and sustainable development, particularly for women, who play an essential role in family stability and community prosperity.