Local Leaders in Katana DR Congo Recognize COFAPRI Activities to End the Women’s Month of March 2017.

 

Congolese Females Action for Promoting Rights and Development-COFAPRI is a women’s grassroots organization that is located in the eastern part of the war torn Democratic Republic of the Congo -DR Congo. It has been working with women and children victims of rape and domestic violence-or children and women from very poor families since 2009. It has two wings that are located respectively in Katana and Nyangezi, eastern DR Congo.

It involves women in income generating activities, such as sewing and knitting, animal rearing, small business and cultivation. It is also helping women to learn basics in reading and writing. Thanks to the generous Sharon of It’s A Girl Thing Project, the women and girls also get FemPads and related items such as pants and bras, and sometimes bars of soap.

The children and the population in general also benefit of the learning thanks to the DVDs COFAPRI often gets from Thare Machi Education-TME. These disks contain very exciting themes that help the people change their behaviors. The people watch the videos and then do practice of what they have been watching. They are also given materials related to the DVD they have watched, which materials they use at home. For instance, if they have been watching how to keep the hands clean, for the practice, they are given soap, washing hand basin and hand towel. The people are very happy with this practice and they appreciate their behaviors are changing from month to month thanks to these DVDs.

One woman says:

Before we could not regularly get what to eat, our children could not get access to education. But with the advent of COFAPRI in this area, we have been doing a lot of progress. We are able today to help our families and ourselves. Our husbands have now changed the way of treating us. Look for instance, before when we were in periods, we could not leave the house, we could not walk outside, we could not meet anyone for fear blood could run along our legs and be seen by the people. Today, we no more fear thanks to the stuffs COFAPRI is giving us and our daughters to wear when we are in such situation. Our children and other people are now changing their living conditions thanks to those images we see in your box. We like them a lot and above all, you give materials to use at home to imitate what we watched. We are no more the people you met the very first time you came here. We have changed, we have been opened the minds and the eyes. Who cannot say thank you for all these things? Long life COFAPRI and long life all those who help us through you!

On April 10, 2016, in the presence of local leaders in Nyangezi, COFAPRI awarded certificates to 56 women who had been learning sewing skills for six months. The local leaders admitted COFAPRI is reaching where international NGOs have failed to reach. In recognition of this hard work, local leaders offered COFAPRI a trophy. Today the women are sewing in teams in COFAPRI sewing Centre and they admit their lives have greatly changed.

One woman who learned the sewing admits:

Before I could not bring any coin in the home and my husband used to give me names I cannot retell you here. I am glad COFAPRI has lifted me up. From the kitchen to the sewing Centre and now I am able to contribute to my family budget though not with a lot of money. The sewing is helping me and my children a lot. When my children are sick, I no more fear a lot. I also get money to pay school for them, I can also lend some money to my neighbor in case they are in need. This is what we were dreaming of before. COFAPRI came to save us. Many thanks to COFAPRI and anyone who is helping them to help us. God bless COFAPRI and our friends all over the world.

In order to honor this women’s month of March 2017, once more COFAPRI has organized another award of certificates in Katana-Kabamba for the 30 women who have been learning the basics in reading and writing. In the presence of local leaders, COFAPRI’s endeavors were heavily recognized by both the local leaders and the women who are benefiting of activities managed by COFAPRI. The leaders offered a trophy to COFAPRI via Mr. Mugisho, cofounder and Executive Director of COFAPRI. In addition, the women also decorated Mr Mugisho with a golden medal in recognition of all they have been doing for the development of the women and the children.

The leaders revealed that:

Doing good does not mean you are rich or are supported. This is a good example that gives us pride and we all should follow it. Such courage should not fall into oblivion. Mr Mugisho and Valerie deserve such a recognition. We have given something symbolically, but their efforts deserve more than this. Making our wives, our sisters and our daughters out of the kitchen to make them learn helpful skills is not an easy task. The mountains they climb, sometimes Valerie with her baby on the back, is not a task of any person. This means a lot to us and our people here around.

The woman who got the highest score (Ms Maria M’Sangano) in the reading and learning program is also the oldest woman of all. She is 68 years old and she got 86%. She added that nothing is impossible if we have a goal, and we are willing to reach it. She said her parents failed to educate her, but COFAPRI has done so. In her mind, there is no fixed age for learning a skill.

In the mind of Mr Mugisho:

Helping women to learn a skill and allowing them to involve in income generating activities remains a great investment that can trigger great development in a sustainable way. We are making a great development, and this decoration and this trophy are not mine. They are the results of the efforts of all of us and mostly, the women and the children COFAPRI is helping in the villages. These rewards mean we are working hard and moving ahead as one committed team, a team that has an aim. We want all women to be productive and break the walls of the kitchens where they are confined. We do not refuse the kitchen, but we will be there after we have been to work and so we have got what to cook. We thank everyone who has made this happen, without excluding the leaders here with us today. Getting a Golden Medal and a Trophy the same day means a lot to me and to the women. We are changing windows into bigger doors for all women and children to enter the room. This room is where we all want to be in the future.

The event was covered by Radio Maendeleo, the most popular local community radio in the Province. The reporter said:

The steps this organization has made in just five years are great. My role is to tell the world how great you are and how the women are appreciative of your work. We have covered for many, but you have touched more my attention. Not only you are popular but mostly you are making a way where there was none. Go ahead and God bless you!

How to Get Involved

You can get involved by visiting our website www.cofapri.org, there you can see what to involve in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v6E4mY5GMs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwWowCLh8Bw