On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Congo’s independence, UCSIA organized this conference in cooperation with the Jesuit Missions Office. Directly afterwards, participants viewed the theatre monologue “Mission” by Bruno Vanden Broecke.

Martin Ekwa Bis Isal sj and Antoine Alimasi Utizikisi sj spoke on the development of the educational system in the Congo after the independence. Due to a failing state, organizations such as the Church and international aid agencies assumed public functions. At the grassroots level, missionaries cooperated with the Congolese to answer social, medical and educational needs. It is a double-edged sword since it provides an excuse for even less state interference. A panel debate offered interpretations for the lack of development in the Congo and indicated were responsibility lies, both at home and abroad.

CONTRIBUTORS: Bob Albertijn (Jesuit Missions Office), Antoine Alimasi Utizikisi (Gregoriana University, Rome), Tom De Herdt (Instituut voor Ontwikkelingsbeleid en ­Beheer / University of Antwerp), Jo Deneckere (Missie van Scheut), Martin Ekwa bis Isal (CADICEC), Guy Poppe (VRT), Filip Reyntjens (Instituut voor Ontwikkelingsbeleid en ­Beheer / University of Antwerp), Ludwig Van Heucke (Jesuit Missions Office), Walter ZINZEN (VRT).