Ending Extreme Poverty in the Congo

Congolese Men Will Iron Clothes If It Pays

Here's an example of a Congolese man working.  You will probably wonder, a man ironing a shirt.

First, ironing is necessary especially in rural Congo.  I was told all clothes must be ironed after washing to kill potential parasites in the water that impregnate the clothes.  This man is ironing my wash done at the Bulape Hospital. 

Second, since this a required job, the hospital hired a person to wash and iron the hospital linens.  Men are hired for the few available paying jobs.  It does not matter if it is a traditional woman's job in western culture.

Congolese men only work for pay.  And they will do about any job that pays. 

Congolese Men Repaired A Wind Storm Damaged School Building

What work does the Congolese men do?  That's a familiar question asked doing my Congo presentations.  Normally, I am speech-less or don't have an answer that rolls off my tongue.  So what do the men do?

Typically and normally, any job requiring education or knowledge is done by men.  They are government officials like soldiers and police.  They are the airport workers.  They are the office workers like clerks and secretaries. too.

Most of the teachers and nurses are men.  Almost all doctors and pastors are male, too.  Very few women are vehicle drivers.

These men in Bulape repaired a school building that was damaged by a wind storm.