Last March, folks here at KTK helped to support
this fundraiser, by reccing, sharing, reposting, learning, or donating. A group of teenage, single mothers in Democratic Republic of the Congo are working to become leaders in their community, participate in the formal economy, promote health care for their families and neighborhoods, and teach other women about their rights.
Women in DR Congo do have rights now. A new constitution was passed in 2006 -- and those laws are slowly but gradually being enforced.
This is the "girl effect" in action. Empowering women is the key to peace, health, and sustainable economic development. These women -- with pop band Maisha Soul -- made this video to spread their movement through DR Congo. The DRC doesn't have a lot of communication infrastructure, but most people do have cell phones -- and they can watch this video.
When this message spreads across Congo and the world, good things will happen.
Here is the fruit of that fundraiser!
1st Verse:
My dream was to have a better life
Everywhere I went, I couldn't make it happen
Now, today I saw the way
Who knew! that by my own strength I can do it
Oh oh oh I saw the way!
Stand up never give up -- it's never too late!
Let's hold hands and succeed/overcome together.
2nd Verse:
Yesterday I had problems
Here in the village I was laughed at
My whole family threw me/kicked me out ah ah!
My hunger/desire for life was exhausted
But today I saw light I learned work/handicrafts
I have faith now that I will overcome
Oh oh i have faith now that I will . . . succeed
Oh oh I have faith now that we will . . . . succeed
3rd Verse:
My name is [redacted by rb137].
I dream of being a counselor for construction, for unity.
I would never dream of being a counselor of division, of hatred or of tribalism . . . .
4th Verse:
My dream is to contribute to the development of my country.
My dream is to take care of myself my whole life long.
Oh me, as I am a woman, I must be a complement, not a burden
Refrain:
Stand up never give up -- it’s never too late!
Tushikane mkono Tushinde pamoja! (We will hold hands and succeed together!)
Thanks so much. :) And if you want to help these women share their movement, please spread the word -- and the video. The more legs it grows the more it will accomplish!
This is ACT for Congo's nascent website.
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Kitchen Table Kibitzing is a community series for those who wish to share part of the evening around a virtual kitchen table with kossacks who are caring and supportive of one another. So bring your stories, jokes, photos, funny pics, music, and interesting videos, as well as links—including quotations—to diaries, news stories, and books that you think this community would appreciate. Readers may notice that most who post diaries and comments in this series already know one another to some degree, but newcomers should not feel excluded. We welcome guests at our kitchen table, and hope to make some new friends as well.
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