Catholic sisters in Malawi are viewed by their communities as sources of aid and comfort, particularly in times of emergency. In February of 2023, the country was devastated by the effects of Cyclone Freddy, particularly in the Southern region. All told, nearly 700 people lost their lives and more than half a million were displaced, many having to live in makeshift camps1. Institutes of women religious from all over the country mobilized to distribute needed items, such as food and utensils, as well as providing spiritual and psychological help to those who needed it. These sisters are a vital part of their communities, and it is important that they have the resources to interact with others, as well as the basic skills to be effective. The rise in information and computer technology (ICT) has facilitated easier and faster communication, offering a means for skills expansion that sisters have at their disposal as they serve their congregations and communities.
Malawi is in the process of making great strides in the area of technology, with 88% of the population having access to the internet2. As stated in the Malawi Economic Monitor (2021), “As outlined in the Digital Economy Strategy 2021-2026, the Government aims to create a strong digital ecosystem that can enable critical sectors, such as agriculture and health, while supporting a growing ICT sector that provides goods and services which ignite rapid economic growth and create employment opportunities.”3 That being said, factors such as access to electricity, the cost of internet-capable devices, and a lack of training in using said devices, have meant that the country as a whole is not achieving its goals as quickly as it would like.4 Other challenges the country is facing include concerns about cybersecurity and the fact that many aspects of the economy, such as the postal system, are still run manually and do not utilize technology.5 With the rise in importance and popularity of digital devices throughout the country, it is important that Catholic sisters are able to incorporate these technologies into their ministries so that they may better serve their congregations and communities. To that end, Sr. Gloria
Maluwasa, SBVM, proposed a study that would assess their current usage and knowledge of the internet, in particular social media. Included in this was a survey of the technological activities of the congregations. In July of 2023, Sr Gloria traveled to the United States to work with researchers at Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), analyzing her data and creating plans for future study and application.
With a final total of 201 sister participants, Sr. Gloria looked at the general demographics as well as the technological habits and skills of the members of the group. The sisters ranged in age from 25-97, with the average being 45. In terms of their educational background, 75% of the respondents have had at least some college education, with 29% possessing a Bachelor’s Degree and 10% achieving a Master’s Degree. The data showed that 96% use the internet, with 89% using it at least once a day. Nearly half of the participants reported using both computers and smartphones, with smaller numbers only using one or the other. Of the congregations represented, 85% maintained a website and 34% utilized social media, with only 19% who employed both.
Sr. Gloria found that, among the various reasons for using the internet and social media, the two most popular were “To help you in your ministry” and “General information or entertainment” (64% and 54% respectively). Other uses were “To help your congregation/check updates,” “As part of an online class or training course,” and “Evangelize the gospel.” Additionally, the respondents reported that their primary reasons for using social media were to remain connected with their congregation, family, and friends. They also feel it is important to be able to connect with the youth, and to remain informed about their congregations and the world around them. We can see through these statistics that familiarity with the internet is important to the work that these sisters do.
Of the various social media platforms surveyed, the vast majority of the respondents reported that they use WhatsApp (98%), with the next highest, YouTube, being used by just over half. Facebook is used by 43%, and all over platforms rate significantly smaller numbers. Sr. Gloria attributes these differences to a lack of knowledge on the part of the sisters as to how to use these programs effectively. Her statistics show that only 67% of her survey participants have received training on how to use a computer, with only 49% learning about social media. The use of such tools as discussion boards, blogs, chatrooms, livestream events, and podcasts are only familiar to 32% or less of the sisters.
Looking ahead, Sr. Gloria plans to use her findings to increase awareness as to the need of ICT training among Catholic sisters in Malawi in order to have better access to the technologies that will connect them to others. In addition to this, Sr. Gloria also intends to look into such topics as the “paradox of the vow of poverty in the African context,” “the understanding of religious identity and congregational charism by the sisters,” and “church demographics in Malawi.” She hopes to inspire her fellow sisters to do their own research projects, as she says, “What I am going to take back home to my sisters and all other sisters in Malawi is the spirit of investigating.”
Sr. Gloria is a graduate of the Finance Track of the Sisters Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI) program, having graduated in 2015. She took the skills she gained back to the hospital where she then worked and was able to help restructure the way in which they did their finances, including mentoring her colleagues on how to use the computer system. Even more than the training itself, Sr. Gloria believes that what she gained most from the workshops was a sense of empowerment, stemming primarily from learning how to use a computer. Prior, she had done most of her work by hand, not being comfortable or familiar enough with computer programs to do it electronically.
Sr. Gloria earned a Masters of Science degree in Midwifery and Women’s Health from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, and a Bachelors of Science degree in Community Health Nursing from the University of Malawi, Kamuzu College of Nursing. She currently lives in Malawi and works as a tutor at the Holy Family College of Nursing and Midwifery.
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https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/malawi/publication/leveraging-malawi-s-existing-digital-infrastructure-to-boost-economic-growth
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https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/malawi/publication/leveraging-malawi-s-existing-digital-infrastructure-to-boost-economic-growth
- https://www.intgovforum.org/en/filedepot_download/258/21450
