Every person is given a lifetime opportunity to impact people and their community because we are all endowed

by God with unfathomable potentials. At CI-UCBC, our commitment is to unleash every student and staff member’s potential to participate in creating thriving communities, a just society and a flourishing nation. As you go into the professional world, allow me to congratulate you on your achievements. You have made it, but this is only the beginning, because from now on you will be judged on the quality of your service to the community and not on the amount of knowledge you have. Of course, knowledge is an important asset for you to give quality service, and we have equipped you for that.

As you graduate, always remember these words of the Nobel prize, Nelson Mandela: “And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same”. Isn’t this the deep essence of our motto “Being transformed to transform”? Remember that you are called to transform others around you wherever you go by letting your light shine before them. CI-UCBC has equipped you with values and convictions through its education that integrates science and learning, academic inquiry and service learning, intellectual skills and technological

When you serve all people, without discrimination, with love, genuine consideration and professionalism, you demonstrate kingdom values that trigger in those you serve the desire to be more like you and to see more of you around them, in their families, their work places and their communities. “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world” (Archbishop Desmond Tutu).

It is never too soon or too late to do good. Let’s respond to our calling of being transformed to transform, and go shine through showing love and bringing a smile on the face of the hurting, through showing mercy to the heavily loaded, through sharing the pain with the suffering, and imagining ways of alleviating the pain to change the DR Congo. It is possible, and it is happening. Keep your light shining!

~ Dr. Honoré Bunduki Kwany, Message to the Graduates