I have experienced some cool things and met some cool people and I’d like to bring you up to date. On Sunday afternoon we went to the American School here in Kinshasa. I read my book by the pool and wished that I’d brought my swim trunks. If we get back there this weekend, I’ll be ready. While there we met with some other NGO employees who shared an exciting story about travels along the Congo river by small boat and visits in some very isolated villages. Let’s just say that I don’t see myself making that kind of arduous trip on the river anytime too soon.
Of the people we met there, two work for the Mennonite movement called 10,000 villages. It’s a non-profit that uses volunteers to staff storefront locations selling goods that are produced in developing nations and arranges deals that truly benefit the artisans (www.tenthousandvillages.com). Some of my good friends will be quite excited to hear that I have met these very nice missionaries here. Also, the international base for 10,000 villages is in the town where Lee lives. Lee is the computer expert that came over on the same flights and he’s here for two weeks helping with the computers. We drove past the 10,000 villages HQ and now we’re playing spades with the 10,000 villages missionary in Congo. I’d like to check out there store here sometime when I am settled.
Today I attended a microfinance conference here in Kinshasa with my boss Nate. It was a formal occasion hosted by the government. There are some tensions between the governement who wants to formalize the microcredit sector in ways that will push many of the small operators out and raise taxes and fees for the larger operators such as HOPE. The meeting was enlightening as I witnessed the difficult interaction between the government and its people.
What a great connection. There’s a 10,000 village store in my good ol hometown of Lebanon, Oregon.