Sisters of Mercy open shopping center in Zambia to fund charity work
The Zambian congregation has opened the SOM Hub in Mansa, bringing essential services closer to local families and raising money for its charitable work
The Sisters of Mercy, a Zambian congregation founded in 1977 in the Diocese of Mansa, have opened a shopping center called the SOM Hub to serve local families and businesses while generating income for the congregation's charitable work.
Sister Delphine Kalisha, the congregation's superior general, said the project grew out of specific needs among people in the area. Families in Mansa were spending large sums traveling long distances to urban centers for specialized medical care, eye care and modern shops. The hub is meant to remove that burden by providing those services locally.
Kalisha said the income will support the congregation's charitable work and create jobs for local residents. The center also helps women entrepreneurs by offering them retail space and opportunities to build their businesses. She called on the businesses operating at the hub to act with honesty, kindness and social responsibility.
The congregation acknowledged the financial and operational difficulties it faced during construction and thanked the contractor, neighbors, supporters and the bishop of Mansa, Patrick Chisanga, OFM, for their help in completing the project.
