Ending Extreme Poverty in the Congo

The Endless Fuel

 
Some people prefer to cook with natural gas.  Others prefer to cook with electricity.  In rural Congo, wood is the main cooking fuel.  Wood is a plentiful fuel in Congo.  However, other fuels are healthier like charcoal. 

But the best fuel is the sun.  However, solar cooking is not practiced or used.  Solar cooking would probably add too much time to the cooking process. 

Solar cooking is practiced in many other countries in Africa due to a limited and distance supply of wood.  A 12-hour day, 365 days a year is an endless fuel.

 

The Other Main Dish

A dish of Bidia, cooked cassava and corn meal, is a centerpiece of the Congolese table.  It's the main dish of the meal.  In the developed world and more affluent cultural, the main dish of the meal is some type of meat.  The courses of the meal are set to enhance the favor of the served meat deal.

In Congo, the flavorof Bidia is enhanced by the dishes of greens and beans.  To many, the Bidia is flavor-less.  Actually, Bidia is more like dumplings without anything.  That is, it's like Chicken and Dumplings without the chicken (the meat) and sauce.

As you realize, meat is the most expensive part of the meal.  Hence, the poor can't afford meat.  That's why, there is little or no meat at the center of the poorer Congolese table.

Career Advice

What is your career goal?  If you want to be a tourist agent, Congo is not a good location.  If you want to be a top chef, Congo is not a good location.

No one wants to come and help the poor and suffering.  So tourism is out of the question. 

Food is expensive and scare.  The poor are hungry for just the basics of rice and beans.  Most of them wish to eat cassava in some variation if they can afford.  It's filling.  But it's not nutritious or tasty.

That's some career advice.

Look Down Instead of Up

 
Did you know that apples grow on a tree?  Also, oranges and bananas grow on trees.  Grapes grows on vines.  A few people may not know the original of those fruits.

Did you know where dates grow?  They grow on a tree.  Most grow high up in palm trees about 30 to 40 feet tall.  But now, some dates grow a few inches above the ground.

This new variety was imported to Congo.  Initially, it a dream come true of not having to climb tall trees.  However, some say they are too accessible now to everyone.

Rural poor Congolese families extract cooking oil from the palm dates.

A Big Asset

Do all jobs require the skills of an adult?  No, many jobs can be done by youth.  Children and youth can do a great job if they are given the opportunity and required learning.  However most adults get impatient and just do it ourselves.

Rural Congolese parents depend on their youth and children to do more.  It pays for these adults to teach them to do more.  They help harvest and prepare fields.  They help cook and carry water.  They help care for their siblings.  Youth and children become full members of the family earlier.  They are big asset to a family.  

Water Means Survival

In Indiana, we are having a very dry month.  We may break a record.  As a homeowner, I am wishing for some rain.  Oddly enough when it rains too much, I wish for few dry days so I can mow the yard.  I will survive.

In rural Congo, wide swings in the rain pattern cause human suffering and even death.  The poor people do not have water for drinking, cooking, or washing.  Also, lack of water causes crops to fail.  Then people may starve.  They may not survive.

Cooking Outdoors Is Healthy

Cooking outdoors is a summer time activity.  We do it for a change of pace.  We do it to enjoy the summer evenings of warmer temperatures and longer days.

In rural Congo, women like to cook outdoors, too.  However, cooking outdoors is a healthy activity.  They do it as the weather permit.  They do it to escape the smoke from poorly ventilated huts.

Charcoal is a common denominator

 
Charcoal is common both in the US and the Congo.  But it is used differently.

Fathers and men in the US is generally allow to cook outside.  They love to grill for the fun of it.  They grill and cook with either charcoal or gas.

In urban areas of Congo, families cook outside most days.  They use charcoal most of the time.  They are not grilling for fun.  And women and mothers are the cooks.   

A Cord of Firewood Instead of Cow Dung

In rural Congo, most women cook with firewood.  There is no propane, natural gas, or even electricity for cooking.  The other popular cooking fuel is charcoal.  However, charcoal is not free.  But it is made or produced locally by villagers. 

Fortunately, there is an abundance of trees and forests for firewood and charcoal in Congo.  And due to the tropical climate, trees and bushes will probably always be in an abundance. 

Otherwise, the poor Congolese could not cook.  There is very few cows.  So, cooking with cow dung would be impossible. 

A Place In The Shade

 
In Congo, the noonday sun is hot and blistering.  Street vendors do not take a siesta.  Also, most vendors do not close for lunch, either.  There are many reasons why not.

Lunch is a time of rest but normally not a time of eating.  Congolese eat their main meal in the early evening.  Lunch is spent by many people as a time for shopping for that evening meal. 

So, most street vendors just move if possible to a cooler location or a place in the shade.  Many street vendors, especially those selling food stuff, must remain open.  Corn meal and cassava flour are staple ingredients for the evening dinner of bidia.

Lunch time sales can make it a profitable day.