A Remarkable Congolese Grassroots Women's NGO & How Rotary Can Help it Bring Clean Water and Health to its Village

HandUp Congo facilitates partnerships for FLO projects
HandUp Congo, Inc.: a California non-profit founded in 2006
Unpaid directors: Lucy Hobgood-Brown, Anne Zolnor & Betsy Brill
Tax deductibility: HandUp Congo has fiscal agents in the US & Australia
Fiscal Agents
A World Institute for Sustainable Humanity, USA
CNEC Partners International, Australia

Democratic Republic of Congo A Background of Conflict • Congo has been called the “worst humanitarian disaster since World War II” by the International Rescue Committee • Bloody regional fights began with the spillover of the Rwandan genocide in 1994. • An estimated 5 million people have died due to this conflict since 1998. • Armed groups from Congo and from neighboring countries continue to vie for power and natural resources in a country endowed with the largest amount of mineral wealth per square meter in the world. • A peace agreement was signed in January 2008, but stability is yet to be seen, and violence continues on the Eastern borders. The remaining militias continue to rape, loot, and destroy remote villages there.

The Human Impact
DRC is ranked 152nd on the UNDP Human Development index of 174 countries: a fall of 12 places since 1992 (UNDP: 2008)
80% of the population lives on less than US $0.20 per day (IMF: 2002)
The average life expectancy at birth is 51.1 years (CIA World Factbook: 2006)

The women were trying to reach the Lotumbe hospital but didn’t make it in time. One baby of THREE born here died. Photo by Lucy Hobgood-Brown December 2008 Skilled health staff are absent for between 65 and 85 percent of births in Congo. (Doctors Without Borders: 2005) Lotumbe’s hospital has one doctor. Another doctor travels by canoe to serve almost 94,000 people in the region.

Where in the World is Lotumbe? …a long way from anywhere The DRC is the size of the US east of the Mississippi. Congo’s conflict- ridden Eastern borders with Rwanda & Uganda are far from Lotumbe, which is accessible only by canoe. Note the absence of roads.

The Women Behind FLO Chantal Bofeko (L) & Antoinette Mapele (R) December 2008 Antoinette was unavailable during the filming of “A Tale of Two Sewing Machines.” She & Chantal have been equal collaborators.

First Load of Materials for Store documented with cell phone — typical reporting FLO consistently documents the use of donor funds

Villagers Pitch In More cell phone images of first shipment being offloaded in Lotumbe.

Repairs Under Way for Store Another cell phone image ••• Images like these await the next canoe trip to provincial capitol, where they are transmitted by Internet.

Store Customers … shopping in town instead of paddling for a week

Garden Expansion US Embassy Grant 2006/2007

Professional Development at HEAL Africa in Eastern Congo Dr. Bolingo & agri-specialist Celestin Engelemba use computer purchased for FLO. Antoinette brings along her newborn. Facilitated by HandUp Congo & paid for by CNEC Partners Int’l & other HandUp Congo supporters

Microloans for Women A thumbprint signs the contract

HandUp Congo partners with Hope International to provide microfinance training for Chantal in Kinshasa: Collaboration continues.

Record-Keeping ••• Savings-based lending model — resulting from training.

First Graduates / Sewing School Each graduate receives a diploma & a microloan to buy a sewing machine.

Motorized Canoe for Doctor & Riverside Markets Fran Zone Holiday Party “ World of Good” Auction For HandUp Congo A friend turns her personal holiday party into a fundraiser. The regional doctor no longer must paddle to outlying villages.

Goods for Sale Typical Riverside Market

Before/After Sewing School US Embassy Grant: expands school (2007/2008) Before After

Canoe Mooring, Riverside Park for Community New FLO Initiative Clean up riverside canoe docking area & create pleasant public space for locals. Before After

Second Motorized Canoe, 2008 Grant written by Medical Students Aid Project in Australia, funded by Australian Ethical Investment, facilitated by HandUp Congo • Additional funds increase stock of floating market & general store. Goal: Generate income to pay for insecticide- treated mosquito nets.

Typical Accountability

Newly Built (2008) General Store CNEC Partners Int’l: grant to build permanent, more secure store & expand stock FLO photos taken with camera donated by Sanyo (note higher quality!)

Lucy & Anne with Chantal & Antoinette December 2008 HandUp Congo returns to Congo at least every 18 months.

Lucy & FLO colleagues HandUp Congo teammate Linda James in hat & sunglasses December 2008

December 2008 Trip Observations Microfinance Operations Mature The savings-based group model is serving more women. Photo by Lucy, December 2008

December 2008 Trip Observations Support for Widows New FLO Initiative Garden for widows with shady meeting place & food. Sewing students made the dresses for the women.

Mid 2007 FLO & Lotumbe’s doctors identify water sanitation and hygiene as critical needs. Water Sanitation & Hygiene: A Community Priority HandUp Congo facilitates Red Cross assessment visit. • One regional hospital serving 93,458 people • Three schools • 6,867 local inhabitants

• Red Cross Analysis meets Rotary International Matching Grant Guidelines
• Proposal adheres to UNICEF Standards
wells,including one at the hospital
rainwater collection stations and hand-washing facilities at the schools
public latrine stations
300 household squat toilets
Comprehensive, community-wide public health outreach
Red Cross Community Needs Assessment

Here’s Where Rotary Comes In
Clean water, sanitation, & hygiene
Mobilization of Rotarians in Africa
Key Priorities Of Rotary International

Fall 2008 HandUp Congo team plans trip to Congo. Fisherman’s Wharf Rotary Member Betsy Brill identifies Kinshasa Rotary Clubs December 2008 • Lucy visits Kinshasa Rotary Clubs to present FLO’s projects • The Kinshasa Kingabwa Rotary Club (RCKK) offers to support FLO’s Water & Sanitation Project. • RCKK sends Rotary materials in French for FLO leaders in Lotumbe. January 2009—present • RCKK maintains email contact with Betsy, Lucy, & FLO leaders.

The Kinshasa Kingabwa Rotary Club RCKK Chartered 1998 • Successful Matching Grants, including completion of 4 wells. • European and Canadian partners. • Good reputation at Rotary International. • Has met personally with FLO leaders. • Has evaluated the Red Cross Water Proposal. • Wishes to manage Lotumbe’s Water Sanitation & Hygiene Project. • Communicates via email with Fisherman’s Wharf member Betsy Brill.

An Ambitious Proposal
5 wells, including one for hospital
3 rainwater collection points & hand-washing stations at schools
18 public latrines
300 household squat toilets
Comprehensive, community-wide public health education

Realities
Total project cost: $226,000 Materials & transport are expensive. Why:
Most materials are imported &must be transported by air or barge inland.
Only two drilling companies operate in Congo.
Lotumbe is accessible only by water, seven days paddling by dugout canoe from Mbandaka; 16 hours in a motorized canoe.
“ The cost of doing anything in the Congo is about 300% the cost of doing it in Eastern and Southern Africa. It is isolated geographically and everything is broken down.” Verona Edelstein, former Canadian Ambassador to DRC Member, Vancouver Rotary Club

Why Rotary?
Verona Edelstein
Former Canadian Ambassador to the DRC Member, Vancouver Rotary
“ Our governments are doing very very little to help the Congolese people. “ Because the environment is difficult they work elsewhere, which is why we Rotarians should work in the Congo.”

Ready-to-Go World Service Project Rotary Checklist
Addresses two major RI priorities — clean water & mobilization of African Rotarians.
Responsive and responsible in-country Rotary partner engaged and ready to go.
Project was self-initiated in the beneficiary community.
Community Needs Assessment completed & acceptable to Rotary International.
Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Project includes public health component, local involvement in planning & construction and future maintenance.

Strategy for Success
Engage many Clubs in many Districts to fully leverage Rotary’s Matching Grant process.
No Club or District is overburdened financially.
One Rotary Club manages the project and paperwork for all: Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco
Rotarian Betsy Brill maintains regular contact with Lotumbe, with RCKK, and with YOUR Club.

Step-by-Step
Your Club commits at least $1000 (though less would be just fine, MORE will complete this project sooner!)
Ask your District to match your Club’s contribution: If your District matches with 50% = $500.
Fisherman’s Wharf will submit a Matching Grant to RI reflecting all Clubs’ & Districts’ contributions. Successful Matching Grants mean that:
Your Club’s pledge grows to $1,500
Your District’s pledge grows to $1,000.
Your Club’s and your District’s contributions would result in $2,500 for the project.

Outcomes • Potable drinking water will be accessible to at least 80% of the Lotumbe area population. • Disease related to water, hygiene and basic sanitation will be reduced by at least 50%. • Rotary Clubs around the world will collaborate to improve the health of an isolated and easily forgotten community of people demonstrably committed to improving their own lives. • A new African Rotary Club may emerge in Congo’s Equatorial Province.

Accountable Partners Photo taken with camera donated by Sanyo in Sydney Participating Rotary Clubs will have a demonstrably accountable beneficiary in FLO and the people of Lotumbe — and an experienced Matching Grant partner in RCKK.

Rotary’s Impact Expands The Kinshasa Kingabwa Club sent Rotary materials to FLO leaders. Next? Perhaps a Rotary Club in Mbandaka, capitol of Equatorial Province…

Make It Happen! Betsy Brill HandUp Congo Director (pro bono) Fisherman’s Wharf Rotary Club, San Francisco Rotary District 5150 +1-415-931-6710 [email_address] Lucy Hobgood-Brown HandUp Congo Director (pro bono) Sydney, Australia +61-2/9879-4925 [email_address] Contact one of us to request a copy of this PowerPoint presentation and/or “A Tale of Two Sewing Machines.”

A Remarkable Congolese Grassroots Women's NGO & How Rotary Can Help it Bring Clean Water and Health to its Village

by Betsy Brill on Mar 19, 2009

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