This is a continuation of the story of Suzanne Lind's visit to the BOMEN Sewing Group in Kinshasa, DR Congo. They will receive sewing machines and tables for the center from the proceeds of our project. Marie-Jeanne Mujinga, their director, will be visiting with us here in later June and early July.
The other BOMEN members/seamstresses came as the day unfolded. Somehow we all managed to sit in the room which is about 12 feet square.
L-R: Mama Manjina, Secretary of the group.
Mama Nenette.
SMama Felly --
She never stops smiling, even for photos,
and always looks like she has a little joke up her elegant sleeve.
Mama Nicole at the machine.
Mama Angèle.
Mama Manjina, Sec.
She is the most insistent about knowing what CCC is all about, and when the American seamstresses will come to DRC. She scolded me because I haven't been to Bondeko Church for a long time, and not since the CCC connection was made. So we looked at the calendar and I will attend Bondeko on June 12, which will be the farewell Sunday for Marie-Jeanne and her husband, Gaston, before they leave for the United States.
Mama Nenette
She did the most talking and had the most persistent questions about how to sell their products in the USA.
Mama Angélique Kakoyi and her son Blessing Ilunga.
Mama Mbalaye Ntumba.
The women at BOMEN wanted to know what Marie-Jeanne will be doing when she comes to visit us in the United States. They couldn't quite get the idea of the Mennonite Church USA Assembly, but I think understood what the booth will be like. They immediately, just as Marie-Jeanne herself did, asked if they can send clothing items to see there. I said no, but they can send a few things to show what they make.
Q: Do women in America like to wear the kind of clothes we make and wear?A: They like to wear them for something fancy, but not on ordinary days. In many places it is too cold, but mostly we are more comfortable in our more simple clothes. And we know that we don't look as beautiful in these clothes as you do.
We are jealous that many of us don't have your graceful, confident, beautiful way of holding your bodies and walking. (Lots of laughter about that.)I had sent Marie-Jeanne the picture of Nancy in her reversible jacket, and said that something like that might be more saleable.
Q: What could we make that women in America would like to buy?
A: Perhaps useful things for the home, such as table cloth, napkins, pot holders, bags.
We talked about all this for a very long time. In the end they agreed to send a few things with Marie-Jeanne to show what they do, and to wait for a report from her about what people in America like. I said that an active way to send items for sale there is just not available, and cautioned them not to get too excited about that as an optional outlet for their products.
Q: And when will your seamstresses come to Congo?A: That depends on how quickly they can raise the money they need to travel. That will take quite a long time because they do not have money for long journeys like that and will have to save it up. You know how hard that is, don't you? (Big chorus of "Oh yes!")
After more discussion about this we got excited about the idea of the American seamstresses coming when BOMEN has its new workshop.
Then all the women from both countries will sit together at tables and sew and talk. Ideas for products and continued connections will come easily and quickly when all the women are together and sewing!!
When we were talking about what might sell in the US, Mama Felly pointed to this poster on the wall and said, "Would Americans buy clothing for children? Wouldn't mothers there like to have African dresses for their girls?"
Styles they often make.
Ready-made tops and cloth waiting to be used.
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