by Penelope Blackwell

I never planned to go to the Congo. When I joined SCIAF in January last year, I realised how vital our annual WEE BOX Lenten appeal is. And I very quickly grasped from talking to our excellent staff that the work we are doing in the eastern DR Congo, which forms the basis of this year’s appeal, helping survivors of sexual assault, was incredibly important.

But I didn’t imagine I’d be seeing it for myself. Then Sarah, who pulls together all the materials that make up the WEE BOX appeal, announced she was pregnant. Happy news, but it meant there was a big hole in our WEE BOX trip to DR Congo to gather stories, pictures and videos which we would share during the appeal. So I decided to go to help and see SCIAF’s inspiring work first hand.