The Courage to Start Over

Microloans are the way daily bread comes to the poorest women. In Jan. 2024, 100 women received training and loans, thanks to a special grant from Witherspoon St. Presbyterian. Pictured is one of them with her little roadside stand. The recent floods washed away the small businesses of 46 of those women. It is heartbreaking to work so hard only to see hope ripped away.

    Now they must start over. First is a refresher financial workshop. Your Fund-a-Need donations at the gala have provided 5 loans; more has come from special friends like Dr. Ruth Jörg and Princeton United Methodist. Here one elderly workshop participant carefully signs the contract for her new loan: we see the courage to start over.

The Courage to Learn

This year, in the midst of war, CCS has continued to function, and 22 bright young 6th-graders are now ready to take the national primary school exams.

    Teachers and children in Goma bravely come to school, to teach and study as well as they can, and hurry to be home before nightfall. The M23 rebels and Rwandans who control Goma continue their senseless violence. Last week, three neighbors of the principal were murdered without warning; maybe they didn’t hurry enough?!

Words from Goma – and Possible Hope?

Mulamba Jacques, the principal of Community Charity School, describes Goma. “We are living in a carnage. The city is a place of death, innocents die day by day, young boys and girls are forced into joining the rebellion, women are raped in attempting to protect their husbands [from being killed].”

       Maman Monique says that this is the worst violence she has seen, worse than the early 1960s following Congo’s independence. Yet she and others do not give up; the orphans in Goma are surviving, thanks to your generosity. Maman Jeanne broke down in tears of joy when she received money from FEBA for food. You are saving lives!

      Word is that the US is brokering a peace deal between the DRC government and Rwanda. We HOPE it works…

Women Reclaim Their Farm

There is some good news for our partners in the villages near Uvira.

   As noted in our last newsletter, one of the many militia groups which infest the region was camped on part of the women’s farm for months, terrifying these former rape victims so they feared to come out of their homes. Now the soldiers are gone! (Why? Who knows?) Now the women can begin farming again. The picture shows only a few of the almost 100 women of the coop; note their traditional hoes (although these have longer handles than the old ones, so these are easier to use without completely bending over).

Marks of Our/Your Success

We are very pleased to report two notable marks of our success, which is your success for supporting us each step of the way. One is the new Platinum Seal from GuideStar, their highest level.

    Second is a Who’s Who Distinguished Humanitarian award to our president. She says, “Thank you for enabling us to serve!” Give yourself a hand!

Climate Change Disaster

As reported in our last newsletter, in April Kinshasa suffered the worst flooding in living memory, absolute deluges of rain washing away people and homes.

  The recovery process was just beginning when 2 weeks ago, in what is supposed to be dry season, another night of wind and rain washed away more people and property, and new reports have come in from women of FEBA who have been so cut off that their situations are only gradually becoming known to FEBA leadership. Three young children were drowned in April; one woman lost two, another lost her 1-year-old. More deaths have followed from lack of pure water and from hunger.

Now the cycle starts again: some whose homes washed away in April, who had managed with help to get some clothes, a few pots and pans, a few mattresses for all the family: they are back to zero.

Others have not lost everything, but everything was soaked and is spoiled, as gale-type winds drove rain in the windows (only the wealthy have glass); maybe someday mattresses might dry out. Less urgent but still significant is the damage to the Women’s Center roof. The water which came through the windows has been mopped up, but it is hard to go on with confidence.

But people share! FEBA has been providing food for as many members as possible: buying corn and cassava wholesale, grinding, giving. Those who received some last month will not the next. One elderly widow tried to give hers back: she got some last time and she wanted to be sure others got a fair share. She was told to keep what had been given because she has no other way to eat, and younger women can do something to help themselves.

Our New Icon

After some debates and trial icons, we now have a new icon! (Our logo is the same, horizonal or round.) Isn’t it neat?

THANK YOU, Susan!

Our wonderful artist and gala organizer, Susan Lidstone, has decided that she needs to spend more time with her family, especially son Jack, and she has resigned from the board but will continue to volunteer. THANK YOU SO MUCH, Susan! We are very grateful for all the ways you have brought your wonderful gifts and bright spirit to our work!

WELCOME, Tracy!

Tracy Eskridge is an attorney currently working for the Judiciary of the State of New Jersey. Her areas of practice include criminal law, employment discrimination law, and family law. Tracy is also an active member of Witherspoon St. Presbyterian Church, where she has held various roles, including deacon, elder, and Clerk of Session. Presently, she serves as a commissioner to the Presbytery of the Coastlands and is a member of the Trustee Board. In her spare time, she enjoys music, reading, writing, and participating in sports.  Welcome, Tracy!

(Photos are on our About Us page)