Presentation at Bishop Newman High School

ESTHER DRILAYO MALEKO NYATO

Esther Drilayo Maleko Nyato is from Kamiro village in the Faradje territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Her home village suffers from continual violence and famine. Many residents have been displaced by civil conflict and live elsewhere in the DRC.  She is 24 years old and works at the local all-girls high school in the village of Aru. Drilayo plans to use her profit from BOMOI BAGS to purchase a sewing machine that will enable her to start a business from home.


“My hope is that you purchase my BOMOI BAGS so that I may continue sewing a variety of outfits for others. Thank you.”

BERNADETTE ENARU DEMA YAKO

Bernadette Enaru Dema Yako is from the village of Ariwara, a fast-growing town in the Ituri district of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Enaru’s father died when she was young. Her cousin provides for her livelihood and schooling. She attends the all-girls high school in the village of Aru, DRC. She plans to use her profit from BOMOI BAGS to purchase a sewing machine and foot pedal.

 







“The message that I want to give my clients is to purchase our BOMOI BAGS so that we may continue to buy material, sew and make new designs for you. Thank you”

TANDIAYO SALEME VORIA

Tandiayo Saleme Voria is from Kamiro village in the Faradje Territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Her home village suffers from famine and continual violence caused by the Lord’s Resistance Army, a Ugandan rebel group. Many residents have been displaced and live elsewhere in the DRC. Tandiayo is 18 years old and attends an all-girls high school in the village of Aru. She plans to use her sales from BOMOI BAGS to complete her high school education and to purchase a sewing machine.

“I would like those who purchase my BOMOI BAG to share with me their opinion and perspective so that I may improve my sewing. Thank you.”

JULIENNE BUVE-BAMBO BURA

Julienne Buvé-Bambo Bura is from the village of Kerekere. She is originally from the DJUGU territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Buvé is 20 years old and graduated from high school in 2010. She earns an income by sewing from her home.

Buvé is a truly talented seamstress. She hopes to raise enough through her sales of BOMOI BAGS to purchase an embroidery machine.

“I want women to purchase my BOMOI BAGS with love and also to see my country through our sewing creativity. Thank you.”

 

 

Cooper YMCA Holiday Bazaar & Craft Fair

Yesterday’s event at the Cooper YMCA Holiday Bazaar & Craft Fair went great!! I had a friend there to help. Her presentation skills were way better than mine, as I realized how emotionally attached I am to the project & to the women who are sewing the BOMOI BAGS in Congo. Whenever someone approached, I couldn’t help but want to share the entire story of the DRC & a give a rather detailed "glimpse" into the lives of each woman. Ah! I couldn’t help it. I need to make my presentation brief:

 

“These bags are made by women in Congo & they receive the profits.”

 

Several of the women who made a purchase were curious to know how the women in Congo will be spending their profits…

When I asked the women in Congo to fabricate the BOMOI BAGS, I also required them to submit a personal narrative questionnaire. Look to my next blog to find out more of the women's home village, family life & hopes for the future!  

 

MARIE AROYO BANDALE

TANDIAYO   SALEME   VORIA

JULIENNE   BUVE-BAMBO   BURA

BERNADETTE ENARU DEMA YAKO

ESTHER   DRILAYO   MALEKO

 

Human Rights Symposium at Doane College

Tuesday (11/27/2012) four college students gave a presentation on the Democratic Republic of Congo. They began with a brief skit on the atrocities of rape and child soldiers. In moments of silence, broken by a few but powerful words, the students shed light on a single country that faces nearly 50 rapes per hour and has one of the world’s largest recruitments of child soldiers. The students’ actions resembled a uniquely African style of disseminating important information. Across the continent, particularly in the DRC where remote villages define a large percentage of the total population, basic education and literacy can sometimes be scarce.

One of the most effective ways of reaching at-risk populations on anything from proper nutrition to the effects of HIV/AIDS is through skits: when utilizing local languages and dramatic actions, word spreads like wildfire.

The students continued to present on the various international, national and local aspects of the DRC—discussing the influence of Rwanda and abundance of natural resources. I was invited to give a brief presentation on my experiences and introduce BOMOI BAGS (though once I start talking about Congo it is never quite that brief J).  

Doane was great!!
 

***Looking forward to BOMOI BAGS next event on Saturday, December 1^st at the Cooper YMCA Bazaar & Craft Fair from 9am – 1pm in Lincoln***