Blog #14 | Girl Rising

Dieu Beni was a curious young twelve-year-old when we first met. She was sent to live within our volunteer compound, which was near her school. Dieu Beni's father is an English teacher. She picked up the language at home and with a little encouragement would often practice with me during the day. 

Dieu Beni watched volunteers come and go from our projects in the village. She peered in through our windows while we prepared evening meals and we would often find her eavesdropping on our daily conversations. She was also very helpful, especially with new volunteers who didn't know how to burn trash, cut firewood, or prepare chicken. 

In February, Dieu Beni came up to me and said that one day she was going to become a cooperative member of Totonga Bomoi. I smiled and told her that she had to study hard in school and complete her sewing studies, but inside I was completely filled with joy that this young girl, whom we often referred to as notre petit espion (our little spy), would one day become such an intelligent and determined young woman. 

Dieu Beni is like so many others in the village who, after years of walking miles to school and studying by candlelight, are left to a life of inescapable poverty. Malnourishment and disease take so many lives that our families in Congo live with constant fear of loss and unpredictability. 

By creating opportunities for our artisans to increase their monthly income and build community, we can strengthen families and communities across Congo. 

Blog #13 | Day Of The Girl

Did you know that more than 30 million girls are denied access to primary and secondary education? Barriers can include everything from lack of teachers to negative cultural perceptions of education to extreme poverty.

Our artisans are responsible for the school fees, uniforms, meals, and well-being of more than three-dozen children. Mama Aroyo supports her three children and younger sister; Bernadette Enaru, Julienne Buve, and Francine Kandaru send money to their parents for the school fees of younger brothers and sisters; Marie Opisia supports the orphaned children of her eldest brother, and Jeannine provides for five stepchildren after her brother-in-law passed away and their mother left. 

When you purchase Totonga Bomoi products 100% of the profits earned by our artisans are reinvested into the lives of their children, siblings, parents, and grandparents. 

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The NABUTA handbag, which means I RISE in the local Congolese language of Lingala, expresses our cooperative's desire to prioritize the education of young girls in Congo. 

Quality-lined, black or blue interior; Cross-body strap; Inside pocket with zipper; and personally signed by the artisan in Congo

Everyday, we have this beautiful opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. Our artisans are tremendously grateful for your love and support and we wouldn't be here without you!

Blog #12 | La Dolce Vita

Last week, I received several photos from an Italian volunteer who spent time in Aru, Congo. He stopped by our local office and workshop, where he met the young women of Totonga Bomoi.

Their talents and outlook on life impressed him. He recounted the joy he saw in their eyes, and the pride they took in their work as they sewed dozens of beautiful handbags for him to share with family and friends in Italy! 

Just think: Six months ago, these women were working alone, struggling to make ends meet. Today, our artisan cooperative provides them a safe and clean place to work as well as a community of trust so that they can continue to share ideas and learn from one another.  

Miracles happen everyday in Congo!

Blog #11 | Empowering Women Through Microfinance

Microfinance has become widely regarded as an important tool for empowering women and addressing gender inequality in an economy. As the Events and Social Media Intern, I serve Totonga Bomoi with a social enterprise study mission to learn how very poor women are improving the lives of their families.

In the village of Aru, Congo where our social enterprise was initiated, the local economy is very simple. Those who are active in the local labor market are employed or self-employed as farmers and day laborers who do not have regular work. There are of course a few with some basic skills in sewing and machinery, etc. However, due to lack of government policies, cooperation becomes the key element for people to improve their social and economic development status.

Totonga Bomoi gathered with 10 local women to create the first artisan cooperative in 2014 and recently partnered with Yobel International to provide accounting, marketing, and leadership education for these women to create and manage business of their own. We believe that education will be a benefit to the empowerment of women as gender equality is realized and will serve these women to stand against injustice and violence.

Last weekend, Katie, Founder of Totonga Bomoi, showed me a report of these women’s salary increase, from 25 dollars a month to almost 150 dollars a month. One of our artisans, Julienne Buve said, “With my earnings, I purchased a sewing machine which I have transferred to our cooperative office that opened in March 2015!” Another artisan, Bernadette Enaru, said, “I was able to use money that I earned through our cooperative to buy the building materials. Our cooperative has also allowed me to support my siblings with their education. Receiving one’s secondary diploma is very important to the future of my country.”

These women are looking forward to creating many more products! It has always been the social enterprise and NGOs to fill the gap between the government, who provides public services; and the private sector that usually only engages in for-profit business agendas.

Blog #10 | Why Not Men

We all hear about the widespread inequalities of women in the developing world, especially in literacy, health, and marriage, which often regards women as property rather than individuals. Everyday, thousands of women die in childbirth, and nearly half of all African women cannot read or write. Imagine. Perhaps equally disappointing is the news we hear about men wasting away income, opportunity, and abandoning their responsibilities. 

As I have traveled and worked through the Great Lakes region of Africa, I know it to be true; I've seen it. Groups of men standing aimlessly at street corners; too busy whistling and smoking, to be of any help to anyone, including themselves. Despite it all, changing the circumstances that lead to it is what inspires my work.

With each purchase, you contribute to creating a world where men and women alike can access the education, business training, and employment opportunities they need to be successful. Totonga Bomoi aims to create and world where the same opportunities are available for the next generation. Pictured below is my friend Enaru and her son Benjamin. Through her efforts as a cooperative member of Totonga Bomoi, she is committed to building a better life for her son.

FAMILY: WHERE LIFE BEGINS AND LOVE NEVER ENDS