Raphael Voza

I am originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. By God’s grace, I came to the United States seeking for new opportunities, and I have been a Saint Raphael parishioner since 2000. My wife Yvette Pombo and I have two daughters.

I have been involved in Church activities and ministry since I was in Congo, and have been a member of many ministries at Saint Raphael. Currently, I am a Fourth degree Knight, and am a member of the English Choir, Habitat for Humanity, Men’s Group, and The Caring Ministry. I was also the Chairperson of the Catholic Francophone Ministry in the Diocese of Raleigh for many years and an Executive Committee member of the AAMEN Advisory Board for many terms in the Diocese of Raleigh.  

I received higher education in Congo from a Catholic institution, where I majored in Project Management and Community Development, and mostly worked for non-governmental organizations before coming to the US. Coming from a Francophone country, I needed first to learn English. Upon completion of an ESL program, I enrolled in an Electrical and Electronics Technology program at Wake Technical Community College. Upon graduation in 2008, I worked for Solectron (now Flextronnics). When I got laid off in 2014, I went back to school and majored in Information Systems and Supply Chain Management at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, completing a Bachelor’s degree in 2018. I continued my studies at Columbia International University, a Christian institution. Upon completing the MBA program, I was accepted to major in Organizational Leadership for the doctoral studies, and am expected to graduate in December 2024. My dissertation subject is “A Case Study of Justice for Immigrants: The Integration of Steward Leadership Among Organizational Leaders to Aid Migrants Coming to the United States.” Justice for Immigrants is a faith-based nonprofit organization supported by the USCCB.

While pursuing my education, I work in flexible jobs, including working in shipping and receiving and as a Field Supervisor for the Census. I am planning to start a project in education field in West of the Congo, so I am subbing at different schools and different grades to build some experience.