The World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations (WUCWO) welcomed the visit of the Government of the R.O.C. (Taiwan) to formally present its support for the “Digital Empowerment of Women Leaders and Catholic Networks in Africa” project, an initiative promoted by WUCWO’s World Women’s Observatory (WWO). The initiative includes 15 laptops, digital training for 50 local focal points, mentoring, a shared communication platform, and ongoing technical support for women leaders and Catholic networks in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, and Ghana.
In 2023, as part of its first project in Africa on violence against women, WUCWO’s World Women’s Observatory listened to more than 10,500 women in 37 African countries, documenting their realities, accompanying them in the fight against gender-based violence, and giving voice to those most often overlooked.
This collaboration will strengthen the capacities of WUCWO’s Country Focal Points in Africa, empowering women who are already leading change on the ground and ensuring they have the tools and capacities needed to amplify their impact and drive sustainable transformation across communities.
During the ceremony, Ambassador Anthony Chung-Yi Ho to the Holy See, WUCWO President General Mónica Santamarina, Taiwan’s diplomatic representatives in Somaliland, Nigeria, and South Africa, and focal points from the five beneficiary countries shared remarks and testimonies.
In her address, President General Mónica Santamarina placed the partnership in the context of years of patient listening and accompaniment across the African continent: “Over recent years, through WUCWO’s World Women’s Observatory, we have heard the voices of thousands of African communities. These voices have given us a deeper understanding of the many forms of violence and discrimination they continue to face — and the extraordinary leadership, resilience, and commitment of so many women who, within their communities, work every day for dignity, justice, and peace.”
Ambassador Ho, who assumed his post in May 2025 and has been actively fostering cooperation between Taiwan and the Holy See, opened his remarks by honouring the century-long witness of the organisation he was addressing: “For more than a century, WUCWO has united Catholic women around the world in faith-filled service. Through your unwavering commitment, millions of women have become powerful agents of hope, compassion, and transformation in their communities.”
Ambassador Ho made it clear that the significance of the donation transcends the material: “The true value of this project lies far beyond the equipment we provide. It lies in the lives that will be transformed. By strengthening the digital capacity of women leaders, they are better equipped to address gender-based violence, promote girls’ education, strengthen Catholic networks, and serve their communities even more effectively. Technology becomes truly meaningful only when it empowers people to uplift one another.”
Voices from the Field
The most moving moments of the ceremony came from the women themselves. Lucy Joceylin Vokhiwa, WUCWO Board Member from Malawi and former National Chairlady of the Catholic Women’s Association of Malawi, spoke directly to what the donation will change in practice:
“Receiving computers and digital training is so much more than receiving equipment. It means communicating more frequently, more effectively, and listening closely to the women so that their stories are told. It means organising meetings, gathering information, and preparing reports even when physical gatherings are difficult. It means strengthening our network with women leaders across Africa and sharing best practices with each other.”
Sister Teresa Mulenga, a Teresian Sister of the Child of Jesus from the Archdiocese of Lilongwe (Malawi) and WUCWO focal point, added a perspective that goes to the heart of the project’s ecclesial mission:
“We need evidence. And for us to talk of evidence, there is a need for a lot of data collection, analysis, and application — which is only possible with the use of the tools that will be provided. These tools help us bring the voice of the voiceless and, more especially, reach out to policymakers.”
Evaline Ntenga, WUCWO Vice President for Africa and President of WAWATA in Tanzania, offered her testimony by video, describing the World Women’s Observatory as “a platform where women from diverse communities can share their stories, knowing that their experiences will inform advocacy, policymaking, and practical interventions.”
The ceremony concluded with a toast shared across continents — Rome, Mexico, East Africa, West Africa and Southern Africa — a symbol of the communion that this partnership seeks to make visible and lasting.
Secretary General Lavinia Rocchi Carrera captured the spirit of the moment: “Today, we are celebrating new opportunities — the opportunity to learn, to connect, to share, to make our voices heard, and to reach further. This is where a new chapter begins. One that certainly blesses us with hope.”
