Ending Extreme Poverty in the Congo

It's Spreading Throughout Congo

The nutritional value of the Moringa Tree is spreading throughout Congo. Here in Mbuji Mayi the program is implemented.

The leaves of the Moringa Tree are rich in vitamins and minerals to combat malnutrition. It's like nature's multivitamin tree.

The leaves of the Moringa Tree is dried and crushed into fine powder. The powder is near tasteless. Therefore, it can be added to any food without changing the taste.

Also, the leaves both dried and green can be used to make tea. Additionally, the seeds of flowering tree can be used to purify water.

The Moringa Tree is a fast growing and stout tree. It is well suited for the varied growing conditions in Congo.

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What's the Story Behind the Man in the Logo?

I was hit in the face today with a logo. It is logo from the SANRU (Santé Rurale or Rural Health) program. The logo shows a man taking care of a child or older baby.

I am sorry that picture does not match what I have seen in Congo. Maybe, it is a dream of the future when Congolese men take a more active role in raising their children.

Here's a question I am often asked by people. What does the men do? Well, I can say, I have not seen too many of them tending to their children while the woman of the family was working in the fields, carrying water, or etc.

So there must be a story behind the SANRU logo?

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Advertising Their Product and Message

In Congo, you will find only a few signs advertising product, services, or even public service announcements. Don't get me wrong, there is lots of advertising and marketing every where. And it is big because companies will paint their building and other buildings in their colors with their slogans.

Outside of the Mbuji Mayi office of Project AXxes, you will find a sign about their mosquito netting program. The project sells USAID-subsidized mosquito nets via rural health clinics. Malaria is the deadliest killer of pregnant women and children under five years old in the Congo.

Congo Helping Hands purchases these mosquito nets and provide them freely to poor pregnant women and children under five years old. Why? Some poor people can not afford the nets. Also, the nets are treated with a longlasting insecticide. Therefore, the free nets provide a secondary protection to people without nets.

Visit www.WhatsWoodyDoingNow.com For more information about visit to Mbuji Mayi and Congo.

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An Oasis in a Desert of Poverty

As you walk along a dirt street in Kananga, you will see a wall compound. If you enter the solid black iron door, you enter in to a different world. A world of what Congo should look like.

This is the new world. This is hope for the future. This is newly constructed or renovated buildings. However, this is only one compound. But it is one compound here and another compound over there. It is small start in the right direction.

Is this is the beginning of new prosperous economy?

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A Sign of Success

What's your sign of success? Most of you would list a big house, a luxury car, a well-paying job, a big bank account, and etc. A few of you may even mention good health care or access to good health care.

Access to health care is on the list of needs for many people. In Congo, Project AXxes and its predecessors SANRU I, SANRU II, and SANRU III would be the list of your successes.

Those projects provide basic health care support to the millions of rural poor people in Congo. These projects have support the people of the Bulape Health Zone.

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Water in the City

Water is needed in an urban community. But it matters where you are living in the community. Some communities have access to water, sanitation, and electricity while others do not. But these utilities may not be available 24X7.

Water tanks are typically used to supply water to house. And, water is not captured from the roof in cisterns or buckets.

In areas without community utilities, it is just like being in the bush. Girls and women are seen carrying water from a distance water sources. And the water source could be improved or not.

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