Totonga Bomoi

April 2014 – Our first meeting was held in the village of Aru, Democratic Republic of Congo. We gathered with 10 local women to create an artisan's cooperative. A cooperative is a group of individuals who voluntarily join together for shared economic, social, and cultural benefits. Due to the lack of government presence and support, cooperatives are key to the positive growth and formation of communities across the developing world. Our artisans strengthen their creative talents by working together to meet the social and economic development needs of their village. February 2015 – We partnered with Yobel International to provide a business-training workshop for the cooperative. It is our mission to educate and empower Congolese artisans and entrepreneurs to create and manage successful business of their own. As a Denver-based social enterprise, we are aware of the great economic opportunity that exists by marketing our products to the global community, but to truly empower our artisans we must also encourage success at the local level. By teaching accounting, marketing, and leadership skills, we are investing in the next generation of African leaders and entrepreneurs. Summer 2016 – These women in Congo have overcome many social and economic barriers. By 2016, we had 18 cooperative members, who over the course of three years supported 264 family members by helping with school fees and healthcare costs. When I returned to Congo last summer they approached me with a proposal to train young women in the village how to sew. These women are eligible to participate based on not having had the opportunity to attend primary school. Our cooperative is now helping those living in even more desperate circumstances. How incredible is that? So you can see that our model is not only working, it’s thriving. Today – Our cooperative’s capacity for confidence and creativity has grown tremendously. We encourage you to take a few moments to visit our website and learn more about building peace and prosperity in the Congo.