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The Tale of Two Sewing Machines Continues... and how you can help

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    Notes on slide 1

    Lucy, Anne & Betsy have subsequently created a California-based non-profit, HandUp Congo, to support the efforts of the women of Lotumbe and Fondation Lucie Otaenga… FLO. HandUp Congo works with fiscal agents in the US and in Australia to receive tax-deductible donations.HandUp Congo helps match FLO with appropriate funding partners for their projects. Women and children are the focus of HandUp Congo’s efforts -- and those of FLO.By the way, both logos were designed by Roma Mehta, a HandUp Congo supporter in Taiwan! We collaborate via email and Skype!

    Congo has been called the \"worst humanitarian disaster since World War II\" by the International Rescue Committee. Congo has beenbrought to its knees in bloody regional fights which 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 sq km in the world.In 2000, Madeleine Albright suggested this war was of such great magnitude and regional impact that \"it could be described as Africa's first world war\".A peace agreement was signed in January 2008, but stability is yet to be seen and violence continues.The remaining militias continue to rape, loot, and destroy remote villages.

    A shocking reminder of the difficulties faced by Congolese women… and the need for access to medical resources. One of the babies died.

    Where in the world is Lotumbe? As you can see, it is far from the troubled Eastern part of Congo… and is very remote.To get there, fly to Kinshasa, the capitol of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Then take a 2-hour flight to Mbandaka, capitol of Equatorial Province. THEN board a dugout canoe for Lotumbe. If you're paddling, plan on seven days. If you're lucky enough to afford an outboard motor, it's a snap... just 16 hours with a stop or two along the way.For a quicker trip, download GoogleEarth, enter your hometown as a starting point, then enter your destination: Lotumbe, Democratic Republic of Congo.

    Though Chantal receives all the attention in the “Tale of Two Sewing Machines” video, Antoinette Mapele has been her vital partner. She just wasn’t available while Betsy, Lucy and Anne were in Lotumbe in 2006. Chantal is on the left, Antoinette on the right. Lucy took this picture on her most recent visit. Note the two FLO canoes in the background

    From the beginning, FLO partners have provided visual proof that they are fulfilling their duties. Though they have no cell phone access in Lotumbe, they would use a cell phone camera to take pictures and then, once back to Mbandaka, would download images and send back to Lucy, Anne, and Betsy via email.

    Another cell phone image.

    Cell phone images

    In Spring 2006, Betsy and Lucy applied for a small US Embassy grant that purchased more tools and plants to further expand the nutrition garden. FLO members documented with photos that the funds were being used as promised -- 2006 /2007.

    HandUp Congo paid to send three people from Lotumbe to learn about programs at Heal Africa in Goma (Eastern Congo). Heal Africa has several very successful programs in health, agriculture, support for widows, and others, that are excellent models for FLO partners. Again, they document their participation with photographs. A report follows.

    By paying for transportation and housing, HandUp Congo partnered with Hope International to send Chantal to Kinshasa to complete an internship on microcredit. (Hope operates a large microfinance program there.) Chantal reported personally on the experience, and HandUp Congo has received further correspondence from Hope on her successes. This collaboration continues, with the possibility of Chantal growing the efforts beyond Lotumbe and Mbandaka by training additional trainers.

    FLO’s microfinance program includes detailed records and is now centered on a savings-based group lending model.

    First graduates of the sewing school receive diplomas and a microloan to purchase their own sewing machines.

    A friend of Betsy’s conducted a silent auction at her annual holiday party. Proceeds purchased a motorized dugout canoe for one of Lotumbe’s doctors, who must travel to other villages in the Lotumbe health zone. Initially, the canoe was used simultaneously to transport goods to other villages’ markets, as well. FLO partners documented the canoe’s maiden voyage.

    Goods for sale...

    A US Embassy grant helped rehabilitate an unused building, and purchased additional sewing machines. Again, FLO partners documented the changes.

    In the past, it was not possible to dock canoes and ascend easily to the village from the riverbank. In clearing the area, FLO also created a pleasant riverside gathering place for locals.

    Through Lucy’s efforts in Australia, where she lives, a group of medical students wrote a grant to purchase a second motorized dugout canoe, this one solely for a floating market. A photo documents its purchase. Additional funds from this grant are increasing the stock of both the general store and the canoe store. The goal of the grant is to develop income that will help pay for insecticide-treated mosquito nets.

    FLO provided a pro forma invoice as well as a photo of the motor.

    Again, based on Lucy’s outreach in Sydney, CNEC Partners International provided a grant to build a permanent, more secure General Store and to expand its stock. Photos document that the project was carried out.

    Beyond receiving photos and reports, HandUp Congo teammates have vowed to return to Congo at least every 18 months. In December 2008, Lucy and Anne did that, and traveled back to Lotumbe… in the newest dugout canoe. The first, needing a new paint job, is behind them.

    Lucy photographed a meeting at Lotumbe’s microfinance operation. Thanks to Chantal’s internship, the borrowers work in groups and contribute to a small savings fund.

    Lucy and Anne’s visit found new programs under way, including an effort to care for Lotumbe’s widows.

    Favorites, Groups & Events

    The Tale of Two Sewing Machines Continues... and how you can help - Presentation Transcript

    1. &
    2. HandUp Congo facilitates partnerships for FLO projects • HandUp Congo, Inc.: Fiscal Agents a California non-profit • A World Institute for founded in 2006 Sustainable Humanity, • Unpaid directors: USA Lucy Hobgood-Brown, Anne Zolnor & Betsy Brill • CNEC Partners International, • Tax deductibility: Australia HandUp Congo has fiscal agents in the US & Australia
    3. Democratic Republic of Congo A Background of Conflict •  The “worst humanitarian disaster since World War II” — 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 January 2008 peace agreement yields only occasional stability and violence continues on the Eastern borders. Remaining militias continue to rape, loot, and destroy remote villages there.
    4. 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)
    5. 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. 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
    6. Where in the World is Lotumbe? …a long way from anywhere Note the absence of roads. 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.
    7. 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.
    8. First Load of Materials for Store documented with cell phone — typical reporting FLO consistently documents the use of donor funds
    9. Villagers Pitch In More cell phone images of first shipment being offloaded in Lotumbe.
    10. Repairs Under Way for Store Another cell phone image ••• Images such as these await the next canoe trip to the provincial capitol, where they are transmitted by Internet.
    11. Store Customers … shopping in town instead of paddling for a week
    12. Garden Expansion US Embassy Grant 2006/2007
    13. Professional Development at HEAL Africa in Eastern Congo Facilitated by HandUp Congo & paid for by CNEC Partners Int’l & other HandUp Congo supporters Dr. Bolingo & agri-specialist Celestin Engelemba use computer purchased for FLO. Antoinette brings along her newborn.
    14. Microloans for Women A thumbprint signs the contract
    15. HandUp Congo partners with Hope International to provide microfinance training for Chantal in Kinshasa: Collaboration continues.
    16. Record-Keeping ••• Savings-based lending model — resulting from training.
    17. First Graduates / Sewing School Each graduate receives a diploma & a microloan to buy a sewing machine.
    18. 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.
    19. Goods for Sale Typical Riverside Market
    20. Before Before/After Sewing School US Embassy Grant: expands school (2007/2008) After
    21. Before Canoe Mooring, Riverside Park for Community After New FLO Initiative Clean up riverside canoe docking area & create pleasant public space for locals.
    22. 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.
    23. Typical Accountability
    24. 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!)
    25. Lucy & Anne with Chantal & Antoinette December 2008 HandUp Congo returns to Congo at least every 18 months.
    26. December 2008 Photo Report Lucy and HandUp Congo teammate Linda James (in hat) cut up with Antoinette & Chantal
    27. December 2008 Trip Observations Microfinance Operations Mature The savings- based group model is serving more women. Photo by Lucy, December 2008
    28. 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.
    29. Community Identifies Needs Clean Water &Sanitation FLO & Lotumbe’s doctors identify water sanitation and hygiene as critical needs. • One regional hospital serving 93,458 people • Three schools • 6,867 local HandUp Congo facilitates inhabitants Red Cross assessment visit in 2007.
    30. Red Cross Community Needs Assessment • Red Cross Analysis & Proposal Adhere to UNICEF Standards 3 wells,including one at the hospital 4 rainwater collection stations and hand-washing facilities at the schools 5 public latrine stations • household latrines Comprehensive, community-wide public health outreach & education Total Project Cost = $226,000
    31. Wish List QuickTimeª and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. Help Motivated People Help Themselves HEALTH INCOME GENERATION EDUCATION • $1000 — 200 mosquito • $20,000 — renovate & nets. furnish guest house for paying • $300 – 50 school visitors. uniforms & pairs of shoes. • $6000 — 20 beds, mattresses & bedpans. • $30,000 — purchase sawmill & generator. • $750 – one year’s • $226,000 — massive clean water & sanitation education expenses for project (wells, latrines, a Lotumbe teacher. rainwater collection systems, & community- wide public health • $4000 — renovate & education).
    32. www.handupcongo.org Help us help these motivated & resourceful people
    33. Make It Happen! Betsy Brill HandUp Congo Director (pro bono) Fisherman’s Wharf Rotary Club, San Francisco Rotary District 5150 +1-415-931-6710 Betsyb123@mac.com Lucy Hobgood-Brown HandUp Congo Director (pro bono) Sydney, Australia +61-2/9879-4925 lucy@claypartners.com Contact one of us to request a copy of this PowerPoint presentation and/or “A Tale of Two Sewing Machines.”

    + Betsy BrillBetsy Brill, 5 months ago

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