FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
CONTACT: John McNeill
(585) 329-6193
FAIRPORT GROUP TO HELP DEVELOP LOCAL SUSTAINABLE
ENTERPRISE IN AFRICA RECEIVES NON-PROFIT STATUS
Fairport, NY - Kamina Friends, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has received
501 (c) (3) status as a tax-exempt, not-for-profit corporation. Originally
incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation in 2005, this status now enables the
organization to accept charitable contributions which are tax deductible as
allowed by law.
The major focus of Kamina Friends has been to implement a pilot economic
development project in Kamina, a rural center in the Katanga Province of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in Africa. The need for increased
economic activity within the region is great as the area has been undergoing a
major governmental and social transition over the last decade. This need is
clearly recognized by the leadership of the community. In recent years, hundreds
of thousands of people were displaced from their towns and villages due to war
and fighting amongst various competing factions within the country.
In November 2006, the people of the DRC completed their first democratic
election since just after independence in 1960 and are positioning themselves to
be secure in their homes, pick up the pace of rebuilding their community
infrastructure, and engage in ongoing economic activity.
Kamina Friends has been active in many projects since the group began in 2003.
These include support for a women’s sewing cooperative, support of an
orphanage and teachers in the community, aiding Congolese university students,
and leading a business education class in the village of Kamina.
This pilot development project in the DRC is the beginning of an effort to launch
similar activities throughout Africa. The project will employ Enterprise
Facilitation®, a proven economic development model developed by the Sirolli
Institute. This method has been successfully implemented in rural areas
suffering economic distress.
Enterprise Facilitation® builds on the capacities of a given community to generate
and support small businesses with appropriate technology and local expertise.
Enterprise Facilitation® is not about salvation from outside, but about unlocking
and harnessing a community’s potential. This potential has been evident during
Kamina Friends’ visits to the region over the last three years as we developed
strong relationships with the leadership of the area.
The Kamina economic development project already has the invitation of the
community leaders in Kamina, DRC, who met with leaders of Kamina Friends
during the summer of 2005. The North Katanga Annual Conference of the
United Methodist Church extended an invitation to Kamina Friends to support the
people of the area with this pilot effort. Nazareth College of Rochester has also
joined in sponsoring this project, since it involves significant educational activity
for the project to succeed. PACT World (an NGO already active in the DRC), the
United States Agency for International Development, and representatives from
the Sirolli Institute have been engaged in discussion regarding the collaborative
implementation of this project.
To learn more about the project or how you can help, contact:
Kamina Friends, Inc.
31 W. Church Street
Fairport, NY 14450
(585) 223-9560
Email: information@kaminafriends.org
Or visit us on the web at:
www.kaminafriends.org
|
