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Do you see the future Emmy Award Winner?
Congolese boys can spot a camera from miles away. They are forever posing. Typically, it is a martial arts pose. But it is ready does not matter, the pose is automatic.
Where do they learn how to pose and who are they imitating? They are making poster or still poses. Pictures and posters are more prevalent than videos and film. Just imagine if see only people poses like statues then you would think that's the way you take a picture.
For most children in the United States, school uniforms are not required to wear. But in most African countries like many European countries, school uniforms are a must. Some officials say school uniforms make a better student.
In rural Congo, school uniforms are encouraged but not required. When you are located days from an urban center, it is difficult if not impossible to buy a school uniform. Although most rural villages have a weekly market, money for school uniforms still make it nearly impossible.
For most villagers, it is a case of school uniforms versus school fees. Teachers prefer school fees.
Sometimes, you hear things that sounds unreal and just not believable. A mother carrying a starving child to a hospital is one of those things. How could this happen? What caused this? It is a tragedy. You feel pity for the child.
Not all children make it. For those that make it, they are discharged. BUT they are sent to the nutritional school. It is a live-in post recovery camp for both the mother and child. They learn to prepare and eat nutritious local foods to prevent another visit to the hospital. Also, they learn about the moringa tree, the miracle tree. The moringa tree bolsters the family's intake of nutrients.
We hope that future tragedies are averted. The only thing worst than a mother and her starving child is a mother and her die child.
I learned "Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover". We are not suppose to be judgemental. Initially, I am not sure those rules and sayings apply to the Congo.
Many health clinic look like typical mud and stick building. However, they provide good basic health care to rural villagers. Without these clinics, many Congolese would die from many more preventable and treatable diseases.
Inside the clinic, you will not find a lot of supplies and medicines. But you will find a trained and skilled nurse. A health clinic is much better than nothing.
At a birthday party, I saw one of the best dressed little Congolese boy that I have ever seen. He was about 5 years. He was dressed in navy blue pin-striped suit. He worn an open collar white shirt. He had black dress shoe, too. He looked out of place.
In the mist of poverty conditions, even at a birthday party, you do not expected a young suited boy. You expect to see Congolese boys running in dirt short pants and a dirter t-shirt. And they are not wearing shoes. Actually, I think these boys are the ones out of place.
The population of Congolese children are equally divided between girls and boys. But when you in a village, you will see mostly boys. So, where are the girls?
This phenomenal is same for men and women. It is probably the same for most African and developing countries. You can call it the "Poor Women and Girls Phenomenon." Women and girls living in poverty are the domestic and agricultural workers.
Girls and women are typically working in the fields performing farm duties. Also, they gathering water and firewood.
How valuable is a Kuba Cloth? They are not too expensive. I have seen them priced up to $300 depending upon the condition and the design. That's our value or a value according to an American standards.
But consider its Congo value. A good Kuba Cloth could be worth school tuitions for a family of six children. That's the value of a year of education at a primary or secondary bush school. It does not take must to send a child to school for a year. But if you are poor, it could be like a million dollar debt. It is out of the reach of many people in rural Congo.
Now, the valuable of the Kuba Cloth takes on a perspective.
Is cigarette smoking hazardous to your health? It is an universal factor that fact smoking hazardous to your health. So why is this Congolese warrior smoking?
Your answer is in one word, Congo. Smoking is the least of your worries if you live in the Congo. The deck is stacked against you.
The latest UN Human Development Report discloses that a female born today can expect to live to 49 years old while a male would live to be 46 years old. Cigarette smoking is not major factor in determining longevity.
