Mary first met Monique in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2009, at a gathering shown in the photo above, where the women shared their stories of surviving rape. As a visionary leader, Monique was eager—almost impatient—to share the document on her lap: A proposal to fund a birthing center for her village. She had united 900 women from four warring tribes, all weary of conflict and determined to foster life, not death, in their communities. Their shared dream for a birthing center to serve all tribes became a reality, and that first clinic inspired eight more in neighboring villages.
We deeply regret to share that Monique recently passed away from natural causes, though some believe her death was hastened by a broken heart following a devastating massacre in her village. Monique was not present that night, but tragically, two of her sons were among those killed. A tireless servant of her community, she had just begun work on a new SowHope-funded birthing center in her relocated village. Her passing is a profound loss to her community and SowHope, yet her legacy of peace and healing endures through the lives she touched and the centers she inspired.
