Board chair visits DRC

Liz Andress, board chair, along with her husband Steve Solbrack, spent ten days in December in Bukavu, DRC.  These photos and stories are from a day spent with the staff and trainees of Let Africa Live, one of our Congolese-led partner organizations.  Liz says, “We visited tailors who received graduation sewing kits in 2015, now thriving in their own workshops.  We were thrilled to see the new central production site in full swing.  And we were once again inspired by the Let Africa Live leaders.”

Cikuru graduated from the Let Africa Live tailoring program in 2015 and received a sewing machine and supplies funded by a Mwendo Congo grant.  She now runs a well-established workshop with several other tailors working for her.  They are located in a creatively re-purposed shipping container in a neighborhood in the hills of Bukavu, DRC.  Cikuru told us, “Since we met in 2015 [when I was a single mother, a victim of rape], I have married and established a family and a good business.”

Ciza serves as lead carpentry trainer in the central production site.  She, a trainer, and a co-worker demonstrate use of two of the machines that allow carpenters to produce finer furniture and complete work more quickly.  Later Ciza poses in an upholstered chair produced in the workshop.

The carpentry workshop is in full swing, producing hundreds of school desks to fulfill a recent government contract obtained by Let Africa Live.

Chikwa, a 2002 graduate of Let Africa Live’s (LAV’s) mechanics program, now serves as lead of the central production site’s mechanics workshop.  The workshop has yet to be equipped with modernized equipment, so the work is slow and arduous.  Chikwa reflected on the transformation of his life from the years as a child in a violent militia, to the LAV training, to establishing himself as a mechanic and driver, marrying, and raising a loving family of five children.

Liz converses with Chikwa, Generose (LAV staff, far right) and Bartholome (translator) about the colonial legacy and on-going resource extraction that leaves most Congolese poor  and the west rich.  Our Mwendo Congo grants are not “charity” but a small, justice-driven redistribution of wealth.

Chikwa and wife Deborah host a lovely lunch of local fruit in their home.  So fun to meet his whole family!

The primary reason for the December visit was to celebrate the wedding of Ingrid Kubisa, first child of Kubisa and Neema.  Six days of celebration were full of joy and love! Pastor Kubisa is the founder of Let Africa Live and one of Mwendo Congo's key advisors.

Note:  First names only used for hosts in the DRC, per request from Let Africa Live.