Cape Verde is a developing country, composed of an archipelago of 10 islands, very different from each other. Religion plays an important role. Around 90% of the population identifies itself as Christian, most of them Catholics. There is also a significant presence of Protestant churches and small communities of Muslims and traditional African religions, as well as numerous sects. The 500th anniversary of the Church in Cape Verde is currently being celebrated.
What does your work in Cape Verde consist of?
-I have been here since 2018 and I work together with two other Adorers. Together with a group of native lay people we run a psychosocial care program for women and adolescents who are victims of sexual exploitation, human trafficking, prostitution and gender violence.
Each island has a technical team that includes educators, workers, social workers, psychologists, lawyers, management personnel and monitors of the various training programs. All the lay people are natives and the role they play is very important. One of our objectives is that the natives here are the ones who run the program and not only from the technical qualification, but also from our double charismatic dimension: to adore and to liberate.
How does one get out of prostitution and this type of social scourge?
-With training, it is essential for a woman to get out of a situation of exploitation and violence. Many situations that in our culture are violence or abuse, in other places are something cultural that has social acceptance. For example, until very recently, gender violence was not considered violence.
What role has the Church played in this social awareness?
-Thank God, a lot of work is being done in Cape Verde at the moment, both by the Church and by civil institutions and NGOs. Although it must be recognized that the Adorers we have been pioneers in the country in acts of awareness and denunciation against gender violence and human trafficking.
What kind of training do you offer in your projects?
-The socio-community care project is where all the training courses are developed: literacy, sewing, cooking, agriculture, computers, esthetics, manicure, laundry and cleaning and others that are alternated. In all the workshops there is cross-cutting training such as the creation of small businesses, health-related topics, education of children, human and Christian values and other training topics that are interspersed. In addition to training, there are group therapies and personal accompaniment, legal and social attention. On the islands of San Vicente, Sal and Santiago, more than 450 women are being assisted, which has an impact on the well-being of entire families.
And are you developing any other projects?
-Yes, we also go out to the places where our women live or are in prostitution. When we visit the places where many girls live, we find a high percentage of adolescents between the ages of 12 and 16, either prostituting themselves or with babies in their arms. For this reason we initiated a psycho-social care program.
Finally, we also carry out social awareness actions: conferences, marches, workshops in schools, universities, for parents and teachers, training for technicians of other entities.
Can you give us an example that has had a particular impact?
-Last year on the island of St. Vincent, more than 8,000 teenagers were reached through a play that was performed in many schools. In the play, the children were shown how they could be exploited. Subsequently, several teenagers talked about it and some situations could be taken to court. This also had an impact on the teaching staff and, for the first time, some teachers began to denounce cases of abuse.
How does the migration phenomenon affect the country?
-Cape Verde is a peaceful country, but with few resources, which facilitates strong emigration to Europe and America, to the point that there are more Cape Verdeans in the diaspora than in the territory itself.
You have to be in this part of the world to know why and how those who emigrate leave these lands. To be aware of this, one can look at the high level of suicides among young people, something that has impressed us a lot. The hopelessness, the lack of horizons, the lack of means to study or get training makes many people end up badly. Training is a priority in our programs: "There is no greater poverty than ignorance" and when we help a woman we are working with an entire family.
Several girls have been helped to have a career and others have completed vocational training courses. It is important that they study and stay here, because at the moment a large number of young people are leaving for Europe, especially Portugal, which has made a call to study through scholarships. They are leaving in flocks and then do not want to return. We think it is important that, although they want to continue promoting themselves, they should be helped to stay here so that they can lift up the country. The Cape Verdean people are very intelligent, what they lack are resources. That is why we chose to train and hire the natives.
Where do they get the resources?
-From Spain we have received assistance from Spanish Cooperation and the Government of La Rioja, in addition to the means of the congregation.
In addition to social work, what evangelization do you do?
-In some of the islands we have had the experience of the first Christian communities. The missionary experience is great, it is true that in many moments we suffer, but it is more gratifying what we have received. You do everything in the name of Christ and this is our great joy, to extend the Kingdom of God: for us Adorers, to extend our charism, which is what the Holy Spirit one day infused in us. Santa Maria Micaela: to adore and to liberate. Our center is Jesus the Eucharist and from there to the most deteriorated women in society.
Prayer and the celebration of the Eucharist are of paramount importance for us. It is where we draw the strength to carry out our apostolic work. As Pope Francis says: we are not an NGO. We go in the name of Christ and what is important is not what we do, which many institutions do, but "where", "how" and "for whom" we are.
Many young people spend time going on missions in the summer. What would you tell them?
-It would be very positive to organize work camps or missionary experiences, but not for fifteen days, but for a longer period of time. Where the mission is shared, not only the activity. When I speak of mission, I mean work, prayer, community sharing. Going out of "our frontiers" is very enriching. To see how other young people live, the situation of children and so many families who do not even have what they need.....
Personally and for my community, it has been a great enrichment. The encounter with other cultures, seeing yourself without the most necessary things. What is normal for Spain, here is something extraordinary, for example, "to open a faucet and water falls", not having to walk miles to go to school or participate in the Eucharist, the health issue (you go to buy a simple pill and you can't find it...). The simple fact of being able to have a notebook and pen is one of the best gifts you can give to many children and young people here.
And finally, what does this award mean?
-Sincerely far from me this recognition, go to Who we do it, from Where and How we do it.
Personally, it has meant becoming more aware of the responsibility that we, as a Church, have. That this is possible from the strength of God and to feel in his hands. It means saying: "There is no greater greatness than to give one's life for the Gospel".
It means keeping in mind the many missionaries who, from our limitations, want to be an image, an instrument of Christ in the world, especially for those who most need our care.
I give thanks in the name of my Congregation spread over four continents, and in the name of so many missionaries who quietly, day after day, give their lives for the Gospel. We are a small grain in this great Church that we all form. Thank you, Lord, for being part of your Church.
