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Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga
12 Briquette Shops open in Goma - 6 more by end Nov
First of all a big hello to all readers. I am back in Goma from maternity leave, with more energy than ever to make sure that fuel briquettes are sold like hot cakes …. a difficult (but not impossible) task to achieve!
Previously we told you about the moving truck going around the streets of Goma with 6 guys dressed with gorilla suits, selling sacks of fuel briquettes, and playing a song Katya specially wrote about the “new charcoal”. It was a complete success, and we will continue doing it every day now.
But of course that is not enough. So we have opened 12 shops in the busiest areas of town, where makala (charcoal) is being sold (and of course where our target market is!)
Balemba and the saleswomen at the shop in the “Deux Lampes” neighborhood in Goma
So yesterday I went with Balemba to visit one of the shops, where fuel briquettes are sold side by side with makala. It is the same charcoal saleswomen who are now offering the briquettes. It is a great result.
A signpost was put up advertising fuel briquettes. It reads, in Swahili, Makala Ya Sasa “The New Charcoal” is sold here.
A saleslady grins as she sells the briquettes!
So now it is crunch time. We will be opening 6 more shops by the end of November. And we are adopting an aggressive marketing strategy. At the same time we also have plans to build a warehouse on the edge of Goma so that we can perfect the quality control and distribution of the briquettes.
Thank you for your continued donations. All kind of support is much appreciated as we continue on this journey to halt the deforestation of Virunga’s forests.
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RECENT DONATIONS
- 03 Sep 2010Protecting Park Area 50
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 02 Sep 2010Support the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 15 $ -
02 Sep 2010Open donation
Caroline 50 $ -
02 Sep 20104 x Briquette Program
Brenda W 120 $ -
02 Sep 2010Open donation
Ryan B 40 $ - 02 Sep 2010Patrol Rations
Unregistered Donor 15 $ - 02 Sep 2010Protecting Park Area 178
Unregistered Donor 25 $ -
02 Sep 2010Protecting Park Area 57
Zoe M 25 $ - 02 Sep 2010Protecting Park Area 116
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 01 Sep 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 01 Sep 2010Protecting Park Area 10
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 01 Sep 2010Patrol Rations
Unregistered Donor 15 $ -
01 Sep 2010Protecting Park Area 1
Rosemary M 25 $ - 01 Sep 2010 Guarding a Gorilla
Rosemary M 10 $ - 01 Sep 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 01 Sep 2010Protecting Park Area 11
Unregistered Donor 25 $ -
01 Sep 2010 Guarding a Gorilla
Gemma 10 $ - 30 Aug 2010Protecting Park Area 45
Pascal 25 $ -
30 Aug 2010 Multiple items
Alexandra S 60 $ - 30 Aug 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 25 $ -
29 Aug 2010Protecting Park Area 212
Helmut Albert P 25 $ - 29 Aug 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ -
28 Aug 2010Open donation
Juli&Family R 10 $ - 28 Aug 2010Briquette Program
Liz W 12 $ - 28 Aug 2010 Guarding a Gorilla
Unregistered Donor 10 $ -
28 Aug 2010Protecting Park Area 211
Louise M 25 $ - 28 Aug 2010Support the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 10 $ -
28 Aug 2010Open donation
Vikki W 10 $ - 28 Aug 2010Ranger Patrols
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 27 Aug 2010Patrol Rations
Caroline 15 $ - 27 Aug 2010Protecting Park Area 20
Jessica 25 $ - 27 Aug 2010Salary Supplement for a Ranger
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - 27 Aug 2010Protecting Park Area 179
Caroline 25 $ -
27 Aug 2010Protecting Park Area 71
Bernard B 25 $ - 27 Aug 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - 26 Aug 2010Fuel for Patrols
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 26 Aug 2010Briquette Program
Unregistered Donor 20 $ - 25 Aug 2010Protecting Park Area 141
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 25 Aug 2010Protecting Park Area 206
Ryan B 25 $ - 25 Aug 2010Support the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 25 Aug 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ -
25 Aug 2010 Guarding a Gorilla
Brenton H 10 $ -
25 Aug 2010 Guarding a Gorilla
Theresa S 10 $ -
25 Aug 2010Ranger Patrols
Janie P 25 $ - 25 Aug 2010 Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 107 $ - 25 Aug 2010Protecting Park Area 22
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 24 Aug 2010Support the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 24 Aug 2010 Guarding a Gorilla
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 24 Aug 2010 Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 95 $ - 23 Aug 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $
- 03 Sep 2010Protecting Park Area 50
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News from Congo- Suspected rebels rape over 240 women in DR Congo: NGO - AFP
- Congo Mass Rape Numbers Rise To 240: UN Report - Huffington Post (blog)
- Will United Nations Cover-Up Rwanda’s Congo Genocide? - Black Star News
- Soco Falls After Nganga Well Finds Water-Bearing Sands in Congo - Bloomberg
- Congo Gives Rights to Two First Quantum Mines to Hong Kong-Based Company - Bloomberg
- MagIndustries Update on Potash Investment Agreement with Republic of Congo - MarketWatch (press release)
- UN Delays Release of Report on Possible Congo Genocide - New York Times
- UK complicit in bankrolling Congo conflict - The Guardian
- River Of Life - Congo Odyssey - NPR
- Congo rapes worse than reported - Salon
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9 Responses to “12 Briquette Shops open in Goma - 6 more by end Nov”
Welcome back, Virginia! I loved the marketing strategy for the briquettes. It’s wonderful to see the program doing so well. I wish all involved in the program much growth and continued success!
Hey Virginia! I am sure Goma/DRC is so glad to have you back! Well done with setting up the shop and good luck implementing this all…you and the team can do it…you always do!
Oh I am so headed to Care2 with this…Thanks Virginia…glad you are back!!!!!!!!
Big Gorilly Hugs…Gorilly Girl
If you wanna see what folks are saying right now on this go through this link…
http://www.care2.com/news/member/441464023/1301939
Big Gorilly Hugs and I am soooooooo excited about this…
Seeing briquettes go head-to-head with charcoal is a dream come true. Fantastic effort!
Thank you Guys. It feels really good to be back. Everyone in the program has been absolutely amazing, I am so blessed to be working with Balemba and Jean Bosco on the ground. See you next week for another post!
great job, Virginia, keep on keepin on, blessings to all your efforts, n hugs to G Girl!
Brilliant.
Congratulations on getting the briquettes in the shops! It’s been amazing to watch this program evolve. Excellent work.