Chanceline's Dream: Medical School

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“I want to continue my education because it will help me be a responsible and strong woman. I want to attend the school of medicine or nursing at university — it's a big dream.” Chanceline wants to study medicine to care for people who lack means for medical care. “In our country,” she says, “so many people die and will continue dying because they lack the funds for care. That’s why I want to be a doctor and build a hospital to help solve this problem. The mortality rate among children under five is very high, and other people are being killed in every part of our country.”

20 years old, Chanceline Cibalonza lives in Mumosho, a collection of villages 25 kilometers outside the major city of Bukavu, Congo. With only one paved road and very little access to opportunities or education, Mumosho is economically depressed. Rich in culture, the people here live in extreme poverty, despite the natural resources mined from the area that supply the world with the means to make our smartphones, tablets, jet engines, and more. This is where Chanceline lives with both her parents and her siblings.

Her parents are extremely poor, and though Chanceline was expelled from school for lack of funds, she was able to finish secondary school thanks to ABFEC, Action Kivu’s partner in Congo, and our Education Assistance program that sends to school children whose families are unable to afford the fees. Chanceline and her whole family believe that if she has the opportunity to continue her education and get a college degree, this will change her life, and theirs, and eventually the community around them.

“My Swahili name, Cibalonza, means ‘what people want or what they are looking for.’ My parents wanted a baby girl, and when I was born, they saw that I was what they were looking for.”There was a time, however, that her parents turned their backs on their daughter. Because of a culture that holds that rape is the girl’s fault, they were led to believe that she was no longer the one they were looking for.“The story that I always remember and I will never forget is the day I was impregnated and abandoned by my family and friends,” Chanceline shares. “I was forced to give up on my studies even though I was ready to graduate.”

“My parents were very disappointed and told me they were ashamed of me and they abandoned me. I lost hope because I saw my life destroyed. I was mistreated, I was a pregnant woman who stayed awake from morning to evening without eating and I had to work for myself. I was still very young and I lost hope and my future became very dark.Chanceline’s family made amends with her, and welcomed her home. There, she gave birth to a baby girl, but was still afraid, worried about her future with no income, and no education. Every day she went to work on a farm, for approximately one dollar a day, and mourned that she had lost out on school.  “But God is great,” she says, “I heard about ABFEC (Action Kivu’s partner in Congo) and I went to talk to my family, who knew about the vocational training programs there, and the Teen Mother’s program (supported by a grant from Jewish World Watch). My mother took me to the Community Center, and I was welcomed, to live there with my child, and receive job training.”Chanceline chose the Sewing Workshop, to learn how to measure and make clothing for customers. One day during an empowerment group session, she listened to Amani, the founding director of all we do, tell the group of girls and women that they are strong, and they already have the power to decide what to do to change their lives.“That day I asked if I was still able to go back to school,” Chanceline says. “I was surprised by the answer Amani gave me.” He asked, ‘’What do you think about yourself? How do you feel about going back to school to pursue what you want to do?” He encouraged me, saying, “No matter what happened to you, be strong, no matter what, you can transform your pain into power.”“That was the beginning of a new life and I decided to go back to school. I gained power and I decided not to fail, and I just graduated from secondary school and I am on the journey to achieve my goal. I was supported for two years and in 2017, I finished my secondary studies. I am so happy and proud of myself. This is the story that I will never forget and I will always tell it to everyone.“What I see in my life, and in the world, that I want to be a part of, that inspires me and excites me is to become among those people who are helping people in difficulties like Action Kivu’s partners — I dream to become a big supporter and expand the ongoing programs to other parts of Congo.”Chanceline has witnessed more than most in her short life, and because of the support she received, she has hope for others. In addition to becoming a nurse or a doctor to serve the medical needs of the under-served in Congo, she sees the desperate need to educate children and women in literacy, and also to reduce the level of corruption in her county, one of the main reasons, she states, “why my country is not standing correctly.”The memory of the day she was raped may be strong in her mind, but her other strongest memory is when she received her high school diploma. Even before she had to quit school because of her pregnancy, she was often forced to drop out because her parents couldn’t afford her school fees.  “I was one of those poor children that my teacher kicked out from the classroom for lack of school fees. I felt ashamed and I left studies for a moment. My shame ended when I entered the education assistance program, and now I have my diploma.”“My life changed being in school because at school I learned so many things in short it has developed my skills and gave me knowledge. Today I am proud and feel respected because of my education.”Now that she has graduated secondary school and is waiting on funds to start university, she is proud to spend her days earning income, sewing. “My life has changed because I can take care of myself and my child with the money I gain from sewing clothes.”What does the future hold for Chanceline? “In 10 years I see myself very far because I will be done with my studies and have work which will help me to meet my needs and help others in difficult situations. I will be realizing my dreams.”With your partnership, Chanceline will not only realize her dreams of practicing medicine, but she will pave a path for others to follow.“What I can tell other girls in Congo and around the world is to never lose hope, listen to those who encourage you. And also I can tell them to study if they have that chance because with studies we can be presidents, doctors, teachers, and lawyers…” The list goes on.One year of university plus supplies, books, room & board costs $7,000 USD. Chanceline will have to live on or near campus, so her mother will care for Chanceline’s little girl during the school week, giving Chanceline time to pursue her degree, paving the road to a better, brighter, more just world for that little girl.

Meeting Mapendo: Microloans, Pigs, and Paying it Forward

Why is Mapendo smiling? With the $100 she received from the Power in Unity group, Action Kivu's savings & loan project, she bought a pig, and is able to sell the piglets for $20 each, allowing her to pay back her loan. The group operates with a "pay it forward" model, and part of the repayment invests in more women being able to join the group.Mapendo is an active part of our community, and her smile is unforgettable. We previously posted about her and her friend in farming here. 

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Congo: The Sounds of Education, the Sounds of Equality [Video]

The sound of women's voices in Action Kivu's Literacy Program is the sound of equality! Hear their voices through video and story; scroll through a collection of stories from our literacy students here.Partner with us in this movement today. Every dollar makes a difference, and a monthly donation allows us to plan for our future!

A Song from the Action Kivu Sewing Workshop: Class of 2017

A song of thanks for our Action Kivu family!

Reflecting on a Year and the Meaning of Life

The purpose of life is to discover your gift.The meaning of life is to give your gift away.A 3-foot square image of this quote, attributed to Pablo Picasso, was propped up in a shop window on a busy street in Atwater Village. It was likely intended to lead one into the shop where, so inspired by the quote, you would also discover gifts to purchase for the holiday season, gifts to give away to your friends and family. The meaning of life, or at least the holiday season.The power of the quote stopped me in my tracks, and I found a shady spot on the sidewalk to copy down the words in my phone, tears welling up in my eyes as I thought about the purpose and meaning of life, and all that everyone gives for the work we support in Congo.I may have been moved to tears, but my training to research sources took me to the Quote Investigator, where I discovered that this particular one has been attributed both to Picasso as well as to the great bard, Shakespeare. However, there is no evidence to link it to either artist. Instead, the website discovered a longer version of the quote written by psychiatrist David Viscott in his 1993 book “Finding Your Strength in Difficult Times: A Book of Meditations." He wrote:The purpose of life is to discover your gift.The work of life is to develop it.The meaning of life is to give your gift away.Gifts wrapped, given, and opened, this quote stayed with me as I reflected on a year drawing to an end, and the anticipation of all a new year holds. When I think about the changes I've seen since co-founding Action Kivu in 2010, when Cate Haight and I began reaching out to all of you to support Amani Matabaro's work in Congo, I think of Francine, whom I met on my last visit to Mumosho, DRC this past February.I first encountered Francine at the Community Center, where she was practicing the art and craft of basket weaving, wanting to add another skill to her business that she started after she graduated the Sewing Workshop in 2016. Asking if I could see her sewing studio, she invited us to her family's house, where she had set up shop in a room of her own.The sewing machine Francine received when she graduated Action Kivu's Sewing Workshop has given her a new life. The pedal-powered machine is stationed by the door, where the sun provides the light for her work during the day. “I sew my own clothes, I sew for customers and earn the money to help pay school fees for my nephews and nieces, brothers and sisters.”Francine laughs easily and often, her wide smile breaking out just before offering her truth and insight: “Before, it was the man who gives you anything you need. Now, I can provide for myself. Now, when I get married, my husband will respect me,” Francine explains. “After many years, a husband might leave you,” she says. “But even if a man leaves me, I will continue my life. My children will feel that they still have a father, as I will act as a mother and a father, providing for them.”Your partnership with Action Kivu and the women and kids of Congo isn't just changing lives, it is changing the very culture of Congo. As these women embrace their equality and power, they will raise up a new generation to do the same.As we reflect on the amazing changes we witnessed in 2017, from our farm program giving the land and education for 85 women to learn the latest organic farming techniques from a university student and feed their families and community, to our Sewing Workshop graduating 42 skilled entrepreneurs this December, to our Literacy Program welcoming women denied an education from ages 15 to mid-60s, we celebrate an amazing year filled with challenges and successes.We look forward to 2018, a year in which the Congo Peace School will finish construction thanks to the seed money from The Dillon Henry Foundation and a generous donation from the Pour Les Femmes fund. In the coming year, we will continue to raise funding for the additional costs of furnishings, a computer lab, and operating costs to educate the future leaders of Congo in peace and nonviolence.The purpose of life is to discover your gift.The work of life is to develop it.The meaning of life is to give your gift away.A heartfelt thank you to YOU, our dear Action Kivu family, for giving away your gifts of generosity that make it possible for these women and kids to discover their gifts, develop them, and find meaning in giving them away as they go out and change our world.Rebecca SnavelyExecutive Director, Action KivuIt's not too late for a year-end donation online, or to set up a monthly donation that allows us to plan ahead as we deepen our impact in the lives of women and children in Congo, and all the people they influence. We are grateful for all you do to invest in this life and culture changing work!

Sewing Alum Claudine Defines Peace [Congo]

Claudine graduated from Action Kivu's Sewing Workshop, Class of 2015, taking with her a sewing machine and all the tools necessary to start her own business. When Claudine joined the Sewing Workshop, she was the mother of a child forced upon her. With the skills she learned, Claudine began a new journey: she started her own business, married a man who respects and loves her, and in addition to her first child, also has a baby boy, who is 7 months old. And she reports being happy.Claudine told our partner Amani: “Peace for me is when I am not constantly afraid of a new war, or being abused. Peace is when I am able to feed and send my children to school, otherwise there is no peace.”Invest in peace for women like Claudine! A donation to Action Kivu provides life-transforming training courses and creates space for women to embrace their equality and power. Consider making it monthly - a recurring donation helps us plan for the future!More about Action Kivu in Congo:Never Too Late to Learn: At 66, Cirezi Joined Action Kivu's Literacy Program [Video]Amani’s Vision: Together We Will Leave a Legacy of Integrity [Video]To Protect One Protects Many: Action Kivu’s HIV/AIDS Education & TestingA Goat’s Good Standing: Creating Community in Congo, one Goat at a TimeWhy Mapendo and Faida share a plot of farmlandSewing Workshop Alumnus Francine: Entrepreneur for EqualityClass of 2017 Sewing Workshop Student Bahati on Finding CourageStart with Love: Sewing Student Iragi on Raising Up Good LeadersAbout Congo

Never Too Late to Learn: At 66, Cirezi Joined Action Kivu's Literacy Program

Mama Cirezi is an inspiration for us all: It's never too late to learn!Join the movement for equality and education today: More about Action Kivu in Congo:Amani’s Vision: Together We Will Leave a Legacy of Integrity [Video]To Protect One Protects Many: Action Kivu’s HIV/AIDS Education & TestingA Goat’s Good Standing: Creating Community in Congo, one Goat at a TimeWhy Mapendo and Faida share a plot of farmlandSewing Workshop Alumnus Francine: Entrepreneur for EqualityClass of 2017 Sewing Workshop Student Bahati on Finding CourageStart with Love: Sewing Student Iragi on Raising Up Good LeadersAbout Congo

Right to Health in Congo: World AIDS Day 2017

Today is World AIDS Day, and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are more than 36 million people around the world who are living with AIDS.Newsweek reports, "only half are receiving appropriate treatment, which makes the NGO’s global theme for the 30th World AIDS Day particularly fitting. This year, WHO declared the theme is 'right to health.'' Specifically, the organization hopes to draw attention to the need for universal health coverage."Read more about Action Kivu's work to provide HIV/AIDS healthcare and education, led by the youth of Congo!

JOIN THE MOVEMENT: A MONTHLY DONATION MAKES A LASTING IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF WOMEN AND KIDS IN CONGO, AND ALLOWS ACTION KIVU TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE!

Repairing the World: Be Part of Building the Congo Peace School! [Video]

Thanks to a generous grant from the Dillon Henry Foundation, we have begun construction on the Congo Peace School! With $42K left to go, we have 90% of the budget to build the school."The world is torn apart, Congo is torn apart, but people coming together, people choosing to work for peace, can repair the world." Hear from Amani about the impact and importance of your partnership with the people of Congo!In addition to the Congolese school curriculum, the teachers and staff will be trained by our partner, Amani, to integrate nonviolence and trauma support into the school system, creating education for leadership, to raise up peace leaders, and influence the future of Congo through its youth. Based on Amani's training in Kingian nonviolence from the University of Rhode Island, the educators will help children and communities understand that, "I am, because you are,"" and "you are, because I am."Peace and nonviolence will be a part of the curriculum, with teachers trained to discipline without violence, and to identify and address trauma in children. With class sizes limited to 40 versus the typical 75-80, children will receive more one-on-one attention, and an education to become peaceful leaders with a sense of agency.Donate today and invest in promoting peace, education, and equality. Every dollar helps fund the the Peace School and our other life-changing work! Join the movement at http://www.actionkivu.org/how-you-can-help/

HIV/AIDS Education in Congo: An Unbreakable Chain of Communication

An update from Amani on the HIV/AIDS education, testing, and prevention project you support through your partnership with Action Kivu:

This month we jointly organized an anti HIV/AIDS campaign with our school kids with SOS SIDA, a Congolese organization focusing on HIV/AIDS. They brought hundreds of graphic pamphlets with key messages on how to prevent HIV/AIDS.The purpose of doing this with SOS SIDA is to create safe spaces where youth come together and talk about sex and reproductive health-related topics. As part of our All Together Against HIV/AIDS youth education, the students take the messages back to their schools and spread the word amongst other school children, and also pass on the messages to others at the community level. It becomes an unbreakable chain of communication.These girls in the photo are my heroes as they want to go out and change our world!

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Learn more how your donation is saving lives: To Protect One Protects Many: Action Kivu's HIV/AIDS Education & Testing [Photos]

Join the movement today - every dollar makes a difference, and a monthly donation helps us plan ahead for this and all our transformational projects.