Reflections from Goma: The Strength of Mothers and the Lessons That Shaped My Journey
Years ago, I spent time in Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, working alongside the incredible team at HEAL Africa, a hospital and community organisation dedicated to rebuilding lives through healthcare, education, and empowerment.
It was a place unlike anywhere I had ever been, both humbling and deeply transformative. Goma sits on the edge of a region long affected by conflict and instability. The scars of war are evident everywhere: limited access to basic necessities, healthcare stretched to its limits, and communities doing their best to survive and support one another amidst extraordinary challenges.
Yet, amid this hardship, I found something powerful - the unbreakable strength of mothers.
The Strength of Mothers
At HEAL Africa, I met mothers who had endured unimaginable hardship: displacement, loss, and the trauma of war. Many had walked for days to reach the hospital, carrying babies on their backs, seeking care not only for themselves but for their families and communities.
Despite the exhaustion and the odds stacked against them, these women radiated resilience. They cared for their newborns with tenderness and determination, often sharing what little they had with others around them.
Their quiet courage, their capacity to nurture in the midst of chaos, changed me.
Learning from a Different Kind of Strength
In Goma, resources were scarce. Clean water, consistent electricity, and access to medical supplies were daily struggles. Healthcare workers relied on creativity, teamwork, and hope as much as on medicine or equipment.
I learned that care is not defined by convenience or technology, but by presence, empathy, and human connection. The clinicians and volunteers at HEAL Africa taught me that sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply show up, listen, hold space, and honour someone’s story.
How It Shaped My Work Today
That experience remains at the heart of everything I do, including my work through Latch Wise.
It deepened my respect for mothers everywhere, not just those in crisis, but every woman navigating the vulnerable, beautiful, and often challenging journey of early parenthood.
It reminded me that every parent’s story matters. Whether you’re in a hospital in Goma or your living room in Perth, the need to feel seen, supported, and heard is universal.
When I sit with a parent struggling through feeding challenges or self-doubt, I carry the lessons from those mothers in Goma with me: that compassion heals, resilience grows in community, and small acts of care can change lives.
A Continuing Legacy
My time in the Democratic Republic of Congo didn’t just shape my career, it shaped my heart. It’s why Latch Wise is more than a business to me; it’s a space built on the same values I saw at HEAL Africa: dignity, empathy, and empowerment.
Supporting mothers, in any circumstance, in any part of the world, is a privilege I carry with deep gratitude.
To the women of Goma, thank you for showing me what strength and dignity truly looks like.
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