Give Opportunity to the DR Congo

Nadine Pembele, is head of training for Opportunity International in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nadine assists with staff recruitment, manages staff training, updates current staff programs and presents modules on customer care. She also manages the induction program for new staff, facilitates company events, and with the CEO, develops training on transformation. Following her studies at Christian University of Kinshasa, she joined Opportunity DRC in July of 2010 and participated in its grand opening.

Nadine Pembele spoke at the Opportunity International Conference this past fall and here are some highlights: 

..."The DRC, once known as Zaire, is the second largest country in Africa after Algeria, with a population estimated at nearly 72 million, 60% of whom are under age 20. Its size is equivalent to that of the 24 countries of the European Union. You can see the potential and opportunities that are available in the DRC. However, from 1997 to 2007, two wars destroyed the only few infrastructures and productive activities that still remained in the country. People were forced to live in poor economic, inhumane, and unsanitary conditions. A decade of violence and systematic abuse has stigmatized many of the people who, to this day, continue to bear the consequences of these atrocities. More and more people continue to die due to curable diseases and inadequate public services, infrastructure, equipment and access to care, particularly in rural areas. And our rate of infant mortality is one of the highest in the world and 80% of our people live on one dollar or less a day." 

... "Opportunity DRC’s mission is to help change the statistics I’ve just reported–by helping people living in poverty through financial tools and training to transform their lives. Every member of our bank is committed to support this mission as a team. Opportunity DRC will fulfill our mission by equipping and empowering people not only with the right financial tools, but through financial literacy training, coaching, health education and basic life skills. We believe that transformation cannot happen without a holistic approach to serving our clients."

... "At Opportunity DRC, we are guided to act from by our core values, not only in the workplace but in our personal lives. Only in this way can we experience the transformation that we seek to see in others. Before coming to Opportunity DRC, I had only my hope in God and my desire to keep the values that allow an individual to grow inwardly first. Since joining the bank I have a place where I cannot only blossom but can share these beliefs for the development of my community."

You are helping Opportunity reach out to clients like Andre Landu, pictured right, standing side by side with his loan officer. Until recently, Andre struggled to earn a profit selling luggage at the Liberty Market in Kinshasa. Then he heard about Opportunity International. In just a few short months Andre has increased his income by 50% by investing his loan to expand and diversify his inventory of bags and by incorporating all he has learned from his loan officer, Patrick Kamunga (pictured left) to bring his business to sustainability and profitability. Today, Andre is making plans for the future and says, “I am grateful for all I have learned; I am evolving as a businessman. I am learning to develop recognition in the market which is bringing me respect from fellow business operators and bringing me more return customers.”