DEVELOPING TIMES: Interviews

Welcome

Mission Statement
Rural Empowerment Initiatives (REI) mission is to collaborate in the reduction of poverty through investment in rural areas and training of local people.

Vision Statement
REI's vision is to treat every created being with dignity, respect and love. We strive to work with those most in need by empowering people to recognize their God given talents, enabling them to make the world a better place and providing them hope for the future.

Our Principles
REI believes that all people are created equal.
REI will develop small to medium businesses (SMEs) as one approach to reach those most in need by creating jobs that build the economy in rural areas.
REI's partner businesses will be led, managed and majority owned by local people.
REI will always seek a triple bottom line of economic, spiritual and social transformation.
REI seeks to build sustainable community-oriented business models.
REI's focus of support is to the economically disadvantaged.
REI will seek attractive market and growth opportunities.
REI will incubate pilot projects with capable management.
REI believes in collaboration. We seek partners whose strengths complement our own in an effort to build well-rounded projects of lasting economic value for the communities in which we work.
REI is inspired by the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, and is therefore rooted in the Christian faith.

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Interviews

Yesterday, I was able to interview three students at University Christian Bilingual Center (UCBC).
The stories they told where both disturbing and full of hope.
The violence that has occurred here is very disturbing. What these young adults have gone thru, well is very sad.
To see the look on these faces is both encouraging and sad, if that makes sense.
The hope that UCBC has bringing to these people is amazing. The Congo Initiative staff here are overwhelmed by the response that this has brought to the community and country. There is now hope.
There is people from all different tribes sitting together, studying together, worshiping together, and sharing a meal together. This is amazing in itself.

God is here in the midst of North Kivu...regardless of what you hear on the news.