Video from the Field
The other week I decided it was time to show you all what exactly a repayment meeting can look like- check out the video clip below!
Role Reversal
I was on a mission this time. I wasn’t heading out in the field to see if just anyone was interested in sharing their stories, this time my focus was narrowed. The target? Mothers. The mission? Discovering their dreams for themselves and their children. I was excited to have such a specific task ahead of me, [...]
Pride, Prejudice and Poisoned Bread
The phone calls started coming in that morning. Children from school calling their mothers working at HOPE, “Don’t eat the bread!” they said. Slowly, gradually and then with a quickening pace the rumors spread on the dusty wind throughout Brazzaville. Don’t eat the bread! It’s been poisoned! The story went something like this: at a [...]
Beignets for Breakfast: Ghislaine’s Story
7am. Early enough in the morning that clouds still covered the sky and the air was cool. Children in blue and white uniforms walk to school and Brazzaville is waking up. Breakfast in Brazzaville depends on where you live. Some people prefer bread and eggs, others substitute manioc for the bread, and then you have [...]
Beauty & Poverty: Discovering Brazzaville
It didn’t take long to discover my other identity here in Brazzaville. You’ll discover it too if you listen. When I visit marché total or the more remote district of Mfilou, cries of “Moundélé! Moundélé!” erupt preceding my arrival like the trumpet bearers of old. I am a moundélé, which is simply the local word [...]
In Her Footsteps
Fridays at HOPE Congo are different. Our usually bustling courtyard feels empty without the typical 60 clients awaiting loan disbursements. Fridays are instead reserved for client trainings, repayment meetings and other staff meetings. It is also the day that loan officers venture out into the field for the client selection process, and I decided to [...]
The Rainy Season
I walked out of the office and felt the wind begin to pick up. Glancing upward, I saw the clouds darkening and moving closer. This was not a day to walk home and it was the one day I had trouble finding a free taxi. Finally I flagged one down and started back to my [...]
Stella’s Story
She was the first client I interviewed, and I’ll admit I was unprepared. It was my second day in the field and I had planned on just sitting casually by and observing, seeing how another repayment meeting went, how HOPE conducted a bible study with its clients… apparently the day had other plans. Her name [...]
Hello! Hi: The observation of microcredit in action
Makélékélé. The trick is learning to spell it first. The pronunciation just rolls off your tongue… mah-kel-eh-kel-eh. The next trick is getting a taxi to take you there. We took a green taxi to get there, Précy and I. Not that there is anything special about a green taxi in Brazzaville- all of the taxis [...]
Bienvenue à Brazzaville!
Two eight hour flights and a three hour layover in Paris later, I found myself stepping out of a plane into warm tropical air – bienvenue à Brazzaville! Less than 24 hours into my stay here, I was already at HOPE Congo’s office, a short ride from my apartment in the down town area. It’s [...]