1. Can you please introduce yourself and your role at Catholic Mission?

I am Bruna Correa, the Digital Online Assistant at Catholic Mission. I started in this role just over a year ago, as my first professional step. For me, it was essential to use my skills and knowledge towards making a difference in the world.

Since beginning in this role, I have had opportunities to learn so much about the international network of the Pontifical Mission Societies we are a part of. Recently, I was privileged to travel overseas to a project run by our Mission Partners and experience firsthand the positive work I have learned about this past year.

It was very inspiring to see the impact of our projects and connect how the work I do day-to-day can help people around the world. Sometimes, when you work in an office, it’s hard to understand how many people you are reaching and impacting. I understood that even from my office in Sydney, I am a missionary.

2. You recently travelled overseas to meet with some of Catholic Mission’s partners. Can you please share about your experience?

I recently travelled to Zambia with other team members of Catholic Mission, this was my first visit to a country on the African continent. It was amazing being immersed in such a totally new culture for me, where I felt welcomed, everyone was very hospitable, loving, and caring. Throughout my travel, I met with many people and I took the time to listen to their personal stories; their needs became very clear to me, as many of them were facing similar problems. But knowing that their needs were being addressed through the projects we support, truly made me realise how important the work we carry out every day is essential.

I think that there are so many experiences that will stay with me for a very long time. One of these experiences is while I was in the town of Mpika, I met with a pregnant woman who had to walk for days to get to the closest healthcare facility to access basic maternal care. She shared with me that she was struggling with being able to provide enough food for her family, and that it was a daily stressor for her, not to know how she would be able to put food on the table for her family. Unfortunately, this was not an uncommon story in the area, as the community lacks enough resources to help everyone in need of assistance.

This experience made me reflect on myself and it was very humbling. It gave me an extra boost of energy to continue doing what I do at my best.

3. How can you describe the impact of some of the projects on the ground?

I could see the hope and gratitude in people’s faces when discussing the new projects with the community and project leaders. After many conversations, it was clear that the initiatives we will support are aligned with the needs of the community, addressing key challenges like maternal healthcare and food security. And more than providing tangible help, these projects will also have a greater impact on the local community, by empowering women and relieving them of food insecurity stressors. For me, witnessing the enthusiasm of the local community getting involved in the project was incredible, because I truly felt like we were walking hand-in-hand towards building solutions and a more certain future.

4. Is there a personal encounter that has had an impact on you that you would like to share?

The trip was a wake-up call in terms of the reality of life there. Even though, I was born and raised in Brazil, where I was surrounded by people experiencing financial hardships, and was well aware of difficulties faced by people in developing countries. Still, I had the opportunity to finish school, go to university, have access to healthcare, and have food to eat every day.

In Zambia, while asking children about their lives, their families, and their dreams, I discovered another reality. It was a profound moment for me because all I could think of was that those children deserve the opportunity to have a healthy life, to have enough food on their table, and become who they want to be.

Knowing that I work for an organisation that is helping these children, their families, and many more in the community, made me happy, hopeful, and grateful for the experience.

5. What part of this trip has had the most significant impact on you personally?

One thing that was particularly impactful to me was seeing how much people cared about their own community. Knowing my work is able to help communities in need, even from far away, is very rewarding. As I mentioned before, when you work in an office, it’s sometimes hard to understand how many people you are actually reaching and how you are positively impacting their lives. This trip showed me that even from my office in Sydney, I am a missionary and am creating a positive change in the lives of many.