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Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga
Ranger Widows Get Sewing in a Quest for Financial Autonomy
We often blog about the death of Rangers in Virunga – each time it is devastating event that permeates life throughout the park. Over 125 have died in the last 10 years in the line of service. This is a significant number – and as significant is the number of widows and fatherless children who are left to struggle. We at ICCN try to assist them as much as possible, with a one-off payment to start with. This has largely been possible thanks to your support on this website – your donations have been extremely generous and made an enormous difference to our over-stretched resources.
Now a group of 32 widows, with the help of IGCP, a not-for-profit organization here in Virunga, are learning how to sew to enable them to gain some financial autonomy. Much is reported on the plight of women in Congo – indeed it is one of the toughest places on earth for women.
So it is heart-warming to have an opportunity to blog about this positive initiative. Once the ladies have finished their training they will each receive a sewing machine so they can set up independently. Bravo.
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RECENT DONATIONS
- Protecting area no. 132 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 2 x Patrol Rations
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - Protecting area no. 2 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ -
Open donation
Betul A 20 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 50 $ -
Open donation
Suzanne M 10 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 100 $ - Protecting area no. 174 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 35 $ -
Multiple items
Lou W 72 $ - Briquette Program
Lou W 30 $ - Briquette Program
Lou W 30 $ -
Protecting area no. 101 for one month
Retrosurfer 25 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 25 $ -
Open donation
Debbie E 25 $ - Medical Kit
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 100 $ - Ranger Patrols
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 100 $ - Support the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 70 $ -
Open donation
Garrett Z 100 $ - Salary Supplement for a Ranger
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 35 $ - Open donation
Retrosurfer 50 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 100 $ -
Protecting area no. 58 for one month
Harry v 25 $ -
Protecting area no. 91 for one month
Ally R 25 $ - Protecting area no. 16 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Fuel for Patrols
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - Salary Supplement for a Ranger
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - Patrol Rations
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 95 $ -
Protecting area no. 217 for one month
25 $ - 2 x Emergency Support to Ranger Widows
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - Salary Supplement for a Ranger
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 50 $ - 1 Briquette Stove
Unregistered Donor 7 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 20 $ -
Open donation
Elizabeth P 50 $ - Protecting area no. 187 for one month
Corey W 25 $ - Open donation
Maureen B 20 $ - Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 45 $ -
Protecting area no. 49 for one month
Minna Maaria K 25 $ - Salary Supplement for a Ranger
Unregistered Donor 40 $ -
Briquette Program
Brenton H 12 $ - Protecting area no. 50 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Protecting area no. 59 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Support the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 15 $ -
Open donation
Mary H 10 $ - Open donation
Caroline 50 $ -
Protecting area no. 31 for one month
De Zutter L 25 $ - Protecting area no. 116 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Patrol Rations
Unregistered Donor 15 $ - Protecting area no. 178 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Briquette Program
Unregistered Donor 12 $ - Patrol Rations
Unregistered Donor 15 $ - Protecting area no. 83 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Support the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 10 $ -
Protecting area no. 54 for one month
Pirjo 25 $ - Open donation
Alex P 40 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 30 $ - Patrol Rations
Unregistered Donor 15 $ - Briquette Program
Unregistered Donor 30 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 50 $ -
Protecting area no. 57 for one month
Zoe M 25 $ -
Protecting area no. 63 for one month
Jane H 25 $ - Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 150 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 150 $ - Protecting area no. 10 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Protecting area no. 203 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Briquette Program
Liz W 12 $ -
Open donation
Juli&Family R 10 $ - Multiple items
Shashidhar K 62 $ -
Protecting area no. 30 for one month
Sofie V 25 $ - Salary Supplement for a Ranger
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - Protecting area no. 20 for one month
Jessica 25 $ - Patrol Rations
Caroline 15 $ - Fuel for Patrols
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - Protecting area no. 65 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Protecting area no. 1 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ -
Protecting area no. 70 for one month
Rebecca T 25 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 15 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 2 x 1 Briquette Stove
Unregistered Donor 14 $ - Protecting area no. 62 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Protecting area no. 55 for one month
Pirjo 25 $ - Salary Supplement for a Ranger
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - Protecting area no. 66 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Protecting area no. 61 for one month
Pirjo 25 $ - Protecting area no. 112 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 20 $ - Briquette Program
Suzannah 12 $ - Protecting area no. 6 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Protecting area no. 28 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Protecting area no. 38 for one month
scott l 25 $ - Protecting area no. 13 for one month
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 204 $
- Protecting area no. 132 for one month
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News from Congo
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- More than 8000 women raped last year by fighters in eastern DR Congo – UN - UN News Centre
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This website was funded by the European Union and the Prince Bernard Nature Fund.
This website was funded by the European Union and the Prince Bernard Nature Fund.
12 Responses to “Ranger Widows Get Sewing in a Quest for Financial Autonomy”
Great idea, I hope they set up some fair trade online shop, so we could purchase some of their work.
Hey, Samantha! Thanks for this news - it’s great. My first reaction is the same as CT’s. But here’s what - I pledge to purchase an item from one of the women, made by sewing machine or by hand. I don’t have deep pockets but even a small purchase might give them a boost. And what might seem like a small amount to me might make a big difference to them. Not sure how expensive shipping or how complicated customs would make a small purchase but maybe we could call it a donation and fit a small item like a top in an envelope as a non-commercial sample. If this type of thing might fly for starters, one idea would be to make an item that might not require exact sizing or fitting like a long, lightweight jacket with contrasting belt to wear over other things. Well, I have a creative imagination and could go on (and on) but I’ll quit there. Happy to hear the report. Thanks again! (I’m serious about my pledge!)
You’re Right CT and this activity makes Ranger widows more financially independent
Thanks CT and Suzanne for your ideas. I shall communicate them to IGCP and we can follow this project on the blog.
Bravo indeed!!!
Oops! Innocent has just called me and told me that Avsi, the Italian not-for-profit organization is also a key player in this initiative. Apologies for that bit of misinformation… my mistake.
I would love to be able to purchase an item. The colors they use are so beautiful!
When I give to your organization, I always give to help the widows. I figure lots of people will want to donate for the gorillas and briquette program but I feel so sorry for the family left behind when a ranger is killed in the line of duty. I too will be interested in buying from the program. I love those printed cottons available in Africa. Keep up the good work.
Bravo to the widows. As a keen seamstress myself, I will gladly support and buy. Just tempt me.
Jacina
Trustee G4G
Thanks guys.. again, will let Avsi and the ladies know…
oh my! beautiful work. and what beautiful gifts… i would gladly purchase! please keep us up to date on how?
Shirts for guys in those wonderful African fabrics would do very well online. Certainly XL sizes ! LOL I work with a Luo lady originally from Kenya, and she always says I have African ‘in me’ because I like to wear colourful shirts!