Most of the women in Brazzaville wear beautiful dresses or skirts made of pagne, a brightly colored fabric that comes in bold, interesting patterns. Women buy the relatively inexpensive fabric in the pagne sections of the market and then take their selections to one of hundreds of local tailors. These tailors can create customized and detailed dresses, shirts, and suits at impressive speeds. Mikhal (HOPE Congo’s Finance Manager and my amazing hostess!) helped me buy fabric and commission a few skirts from a tailor named Bienvenu.
While I didn’t go for the full pagne (top, long skirt, and extra fabric to wrap around your waist and around your head), I did get two skirts made, and I’m pleased with the results!
![Before Eveness Mulungu joined the Walusungu (“mercy”) savings group through our church partner in Malawi, she faced days where she and her family ate animal feed because they couldn’t afford human food. But that changed when she joined the savings group. Eveness used her first group loan of about $1.70 (U.S.) to start a business selling doughnuts and beans.
“By the end of my first cycle I made $140 (U.S.),” Eveness shared. “My life is no longer the same now; [I] was regarded as no one in the community. ... This was the first time in my life that I ever touched and owned big money like this!”
Pictured: Eveness, with her husband in front of their piggery—a third successful business that she operates.](https://blog.hopeinternational.org/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this adventure and I have checked in every day, sometimes more than once. I thought it was very informative, personal and exiting…Of course, it’s my daughter writing.
Thanks for giving us the opportunity to “be there” in this new venture.
Hi Becky!
I was just catching up on your blog from HOPE Congo. It’s so good to see you and exciting to see what HOPE is doing there. I just got back from Haiti. I know a young couple in Ft. Liberte who just started their own little microfinance project called “The Help Yourself Program”. I took them Peter’s book, and I was hoping we could visit a HOPE Program in nearby Terrier Rouge, but we didn’t get it worked out. Maybe when you get back, I can work out a contact for them to meet.
I really enjoyed working with you at Passion 2010, and I have thought about all of you many times. I’m excited about your African adventure! I bet World Cup mania is crazy there. I know it was in Haiti.
Best wishes!
Annette Crislip