Mimi Naenda: Pour ma part, je me retire

Last day in the DR Congo. It always seems a bit bittersweet leaving a place you have called home. After a while though, you learn to attach yourself to people and not places. Friendships are a hundredfold more valuable than any destination, be it adventurous backpacking or compelling solidarity groups.

In my previous posts, you had the opportunity to discover some of the greater political tangents I was able to witness while in Lubumbashi, as well as several client and staff profiles that shine light on the noticeable impact of microfiancance. Without a doubt, village banking is making a considerable dent to the spread of global poverty, particularly in the DRC. Solidarity groups are sustaining small and medium enterprise in dozen of communities, teaching hundreds of clients saving techniques and spreading values of reconciliation and unity in a disfranchised nation.

Nevertheless, I have to admit that the limits to microfinance are disconcerting. Muhammed Yunus once wrote and said that “poverty belongs in a museum.” As much as that statement is a gripping paragon, it remains just that, idealistic. Eradicating poverty is an ideal, improvement is an objective. What does improvement look like though?

All actively engaged college students seem to struggle more or less with this dilemma. We continue to live in a utopia of problem-solved theories, be it indoctrinating market principles or fun to yell Che Guevaran accusations. Or maybe that’s just me. One thing is a certain, the solution isn’t black and white. A bottom up approach is powerful by nature as empowerment liberates the individual. But without a top down commitment,  social workers are only going to continue taking pictures and writing tabloid scoops.

An Unforgettable Team

I haven’t been writing this blog to pretend to know it all. I’m a nineteen year old rising senior still in the midst of debating between venturing into the evil corporate world or taking an extensive vacation with a non-profit. Working at HOPE RDC has been a down-to-earth eye-opening experience that I will never forget. Remember that the future will always be filled with a certain amount of uncertainty, but that the Lord already has a perfect plan in mind.