Exploring the city

Field trips give the children of Kimbilio the opportunity to converse, relax and explore. Last week, boys and girls living at Kimbilio's two transit houses took a field trip to two reknowned venues in the city of Lubumbashi: the Basilica of St. Mary and the omnisports stadium Kibassa Maliba.

The Basilica of St. Mary, also known as the Basilica of Lubumbashi, is a Roman Catholic church in Lubumbashi's commune of Kenya. It was built in the 1950's. It was elevated to a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 2000. This is an honorary title that the Pope can bestow on an important church building. The Basilica is an important religious site and also has hosted large cultural events. These are photos from the Basilica visit.

The Kibassa Maliba stadium is also in the commune of Kenya. It is named after the late Congolese politician Frédéric Kibassa Maliba. The stadium's capacity is 20,000 and while it's considered omnisport, in reality it is primarily used for football. The children got to see a match: the home team AS New Soger versus AS Simba from Kolwezi in neighboring Lualaba Province. Following are photos from the stadium.

For the children, the day was an occasion to have a healthy walk, have fun, discover new things and learn cultural and civic aspects of their country. The Kimbilio team recognizes the importance of broadening the children's experiences and letting the children be children. All agreed - it was a great day to feel a part of the city.

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