Amid a food security crisis & COVID-19-related lockdowns, women distillers of Rwenena, in Eastern DRC, created a plant-based hand-sanitizing gel. You can provide training and capital for this licensed & certified enterprise run by the 50-member women's cooperative, "Pama Kaci-Let's cultivate love" Donations will also fund activities that advance community-led development. This project is implemented by the Congo Federation of Smallholder Farmers Organizations of South Kivu (FOPAC-SK).
Rwenena is a remote village far from the main road, with people living in extreme poverty through subsistence farming. The community has a history of multi-ethnic hostilities, along with extreme weather due to climate change. Women are affected by violence and deprived of universal human rights in a male-dominated society. Pama Kaci women realize that their enterprise cannot become sustainable without more resources to expand production, & business skills to manage operations & sales.
Pama Kaci's advanced marketing plan calls for additional production in larger bottles for bulk sales. The sales booth in the distant town market, Uvira, provides a venue for the sales team to grow their client base. This project will speed up the time and lessen the volatility to reach success. With the continued growth of the group's earnings, loans can provide a safety net for emergency needs of members, including school and medical costs. A peace summit will address sociocultural barriers.
Rwenena women have long demonstrated success working together across ethnic & language divides. Good relations among longstanding clients increase trust. As Pama Kaci's expertise in good public hygiene and COVID-19 prevention practices increases, so too will that of their networks. With economic growth and ongoing, community-led development for Rwenena and beyond, more aspiring entrepreneurs-and future generations-can prosper. As the local economy improves, peace will be more likely to endure.
