New Sh*t In The DRC

We finally meet with the heads of the CPNCK Cooperative that Gilbert is so proud of.
An incredibly joy-filled over-night on Idjwi Island officially launched our newest expansion, complete with a meeting with the King of the Island (who received 2 goats!) and the Governor!
What a peaceful, though terribly poor, paradise, isolated from the on-going conflicts that plague the greater region.
Introductions, speeches, initiative review and dancing were of course an integral part of the event as 50 tagged sheep were distributed to the first of a very large, hard-working coffee cooperative with 76 more to be purchased in the coming week for a Women's association of war-widows that are also part of the cooperative.
And the next group will be 120 ex-soldiers who have laid down their weapons to grow coffee...inspiring more soldiers to do the same on a regular basis.
What an incredible peace initiative.
And we take a moment to remember the hundreds of farmers who have drowned in their small dugout boats in rough waters, while trying to get their beans to Rwanda to sell, quietly, as the industry here in DRC is still in it's naissance. We will be supporting their wives with goats as well.
Tragic yet inspiring stories were shared by many men and women and tears were shed amidst the laughter.
Please consider donating to this exceptionally needy, proud and hard-working people.

the ferry from Goma to Idjwi was filled with a global buffet of soldiers including Hungary!

 

 

  

A warm welcome of song, dance and drumming...

everyone is smiling, laughing and talking...right up until someone points a camera

 

 

one last review and good thing, third party misunderstanding had unnecessarily complicated the whole program

meeting the king, a kind and thoughtful man, committed to improving the lives of his community

telling our story so far...and one last review of 'memo of understanding1'

nearby, some of the tagged goats waiting for distribution

and, as always during distribution, we play!...head and shoulders, knees and toes...

more dancing to celebrate, especially after the widows learned they would be the next recipients!

spreading our "skinnammarinky-dinky-dink..."

celebrating coffee