One Good Idea Can Improve Life for All ♻️

Despite being the second-largest country in Africa, and being endowed with rich natural resources (remember that we are all dependent upon our cell phones, whose batteries require cobalt to operate**), the D.R. Congo is the second-poorest country in the world. More than 80% of the Congolese people live on less than $1.25 a day, defined as the threshold for extreme poverty. That's why the story of one resourceful young man is so important, and deserves our support.

With Nobel-Prize-winner Dr. Denis Mukwege:

The Power of One Person

Some of you already know this young man because of all that he's done starting from nothing...

His biofuel project even earned him a place at the first annual Paris Peace Forum in 2018.

But in order for him to contend with worsening conditions in the D.R. Congo brought about by the pandemic, he needs help in order to keep helping his community. He writes:

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Hello, friends and supporters.

For those who don't know me, allow me to tell you who I am, and then tell you my predicament.

My name is Murhula Zigabe but I blog using other identities so as to avoid censorship. I live in Bukavu in the eastern D.R. Congo.

I am also the founder of a small start-up called Briquette du Kivu which collects organic waste and turns it into clean cooking energy to combat deforestation, and helps poor families reduce spending on cooking energy so they can use the money they have left for the education and healthcare of their children. The other purpose of this start-up was to create green jobs for young people and women.

You should also know that my country has been at war for over 50 years now and I belong to the generation that has never experienced peace. We are told that all this is happening to us because the country is very rich in terms of minerals and that creating chaos in a region rich in minerals is the smallest investment big companies can make while at the same time profiting a lot.

Our political leaders – the ones we have voted to protect us, defend us and help provide for our country's development for the betterment of all – have also been found to be involved in the business of looting our country.

And now there is covid, which has closed borders and caused prices to rise sharply.

The eco-friendly briquettes we produce are badly needed but we cannot keep up with demand because we must do everything by hand, and it takes the briquettes six days to air dry (provided the humidity during the rains does not slow this process even further). We need to build dryers with stacked racks and fans in them, and a motorized briquette press would greatly increase our capacity. Both things require a power connection. While electricity is not available to all, and is intermittent at best, we can arrange for a connection provided we are able to pay for it. And we know we will be able to if we can improve production methods.

The estimated cost of all these improvements is US$13,290.

I humbly ask for your help in making us capable of meeting the demand for eco-friendly briquettes at a time when all that can be done to save the planet is becoming more and more urgent.

You will have my heartfelt thanks, and the knowledge that you, too, are helping to save the planet.

Yours most sincerely,

Murhula Zigabe

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All money raised will go toward upgrading the process of making this eco-friendly charcoal, and will be transferred directly to this enterprising young man via MoneyGram. I hope you will consider donating... and will share this fundraiser with friends. Together we can make this happen.

Wouldn't you want to help? Why not do it in honor of Earth Month (April) or Earth Day, April 22nd?

THANKS SO VERY MUCH!

**https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/your-mobile-phone-is-powered-by-precious-metals-and-minerals