Our driver in Kinshasa, Guylain

Today we have been traveling to Kimpese, about 200 km from Kinshasa, almost all day. Our driver in Kinshasa, Guylain, picked us up at the hotel this morning and took us to a taxi rank. Yapeco looked around and got hold of a decent car and a driver named Fiston. The rain started pouring down when we were moving our luggage from the one car to the other and Yapeco became very wet. Bernt and I succeded in becoming a little less wet and Fiston worked shirtless. It took some time to take care of the luggage. Our four suitcases weighed about 100 kg, there were several small bags, and Yapeco had purchased two boxes of paper and some equipment to his office in Kinshasa.

In addition to all the luggage there was one passenger besides the three of us. The car was well-packed, but it was not crowded. We had no goats chained on the roof or people standing at the back, lying on the bonnet or hanging on the sides of the car. The Congolese usually exploit the the car’s performance to the extreme. As far as I understand, the cars are loaded at least twice as heavy as in Europe, and the traffic police condone the overloads. If there had been stricter regulations, the overloads would have been a great source of revenue for the police. On our journey today we have encountered about twenty policemen and not one of them asked for a bribe. We were happy about this, but everything about the car was legal, thus there was no reason for us to be charged. Or could it be that the policemen’s code of conduct has been upgraded?

Even though we started this part of the trip more or less soaked, none of us were cold. One of the good things about Congo is that you never get cold even though you are wet. After a few hours in the car, we were perfectly dry again. And Fiston had put on a dry sweater and looked completely presentable again.

At 3 p.m., we arrived in Kimpese at the home of our friends Nganga and Nsiku Thérèse. We have stayed here during five of our Congo trips, and for the most part, on two occasions on each trip. They are extremely hospitable and they offer us a very good place to stay. When we are staying at the home of a family here in Congo, we compensate for the load of having guests. Today we were served dinner within one hour. We had rice and chicken, tomatoes, onions, sakasaka and manioc and for dessert, bananas.

Secretary Marie Nilsson represent the Embassy. The others are Gösta, Yapeco, Bernt and Yngve

Today we had a booked appointment at the Swedish embassy at 09.30 a.m. We met with Ambassador Annika Ben David and Counsellor Christina Etzel. Yapeco and Gösta had come with us. We informed them about our work and had a fruitful exchange of views on the situation in Congo. We talked about difficulties and opportunities, of which unfortunately the difficulties easily take too much space. The most important thing is to see, seize and make use of the opportunities. The opportunities are the foundation of visions which in turn create commitment. “If we lose the vision we lose the passion.” Therefore, we have to take very good care of possibilities and visions in order to be able to continue working in this environment in a sensible way.

With Gösta, we have discussed the possibilities of developing our ideas of an eco-neutral housing, “the ECO house”. We need a Congolese partner who is enthusiastic about the project, and we will continue to work on this.

Gösta will introduce our new teaching materials “Focus Business School” to his church, which is one of the largest in Kinshasa.

Now, we have a few weeks in Congo ahead of us, and we aim to fully seize the opportunities we can see. The next few days will show us which ones we shall devote ourselves to. More on that will come in future blogs.

Yapeco our manager in the Congo Kinshasa

We spent the night in hotel Lulo in Kinshasa, next door to Nzo Binati. We took our regular breakfast consisting of oatmeal and ​​a mix of water and milkpowder. On top of this solid foundation, we had a well-cooked egg with bread. With such a hearty breakfast we won’t need a refill until late afternoon.

Yapeco, Gösta Luboyi and the driver Guylain met us at the airport last night and they have stayed with us throughout the day. First we went to see Tutondele, one of our salespersons of solar lamps. We did a thorough review of the current sales work and we sketched out new ways of working. We have hired two new salespersons in Kinshasa. They have a month to prove what they can accomplish. If they succeed they will get new assignments. We expect to be back here in mid-April in order to evaluate the sales.

At 5 p.m., we were invited to the Swedish embassy for a social event for us northerners. About 25 guests came and we had a pleasant afternoon on their patio surrounded with a well fenced and lush garden. The Embassy offered Swedish cream cakes and coffee. We met many interesting people and got some new contacts at the embassy. One man worked on the development of the cement factory in Lukala at Kimpese, and another man – an adventurer – had worked all over the world. Since 1995 he has been active in Congo Kinshasa, starting in the refugee camps of Bukavu after the genocide in Rwanda. Before we left the Embassy he told me that he had lived in Ulricehamn for several years during his childhood. There, he had attended the Sunday School of the Mission Church. The parents were members of the church. It was nice to know that he once had lived in my home municipality.

We also met security people and people from Swedish MSB, formerly SRSA, with responsibility for the safety of the Swedish UN staff. One captain worked with the training of officers within the UN. A military attaché gave a brief speech. He was stationed in Pretoria but his district was the whole of southern Africa, including the Congo countries.

We end the first day of our eighth Congo trip by making a summary in the form of this blog post. We are pleased if you have time to read our blog. We also appreciate your comments. Let your thoughts out and give them wings, and they will travel around the globe.

At R Congo’s Embassy. Bernt, crew, ambassador André Hombessa and Marius Billy

Monday, January 27 Bernt and I were invited to the Republic of Congo’s embassy in Stockholm. A well-initiated group of Swedes around Ambassador André Hombessa and Marius Billy has ideas on starting entrepreneurial education at the school Sueco in Point Noire.

The group wants to engage MSG in these plans. We had an interesting meeting and exchanged ideas. At the moment we can support with the educational materials we use in our training.

The meeting resulted in that one of the participants, Anders Hellgren, will more concretely formulate a plan of the education.

Last Wednesday, the Board had a meeting and among other things stated that the annual meeting will be on March 8 at Immanuel Church in Borås. See information under About us

Now we also begin detailed planning prior our trip to the Congo countries that is supposed to be in the latter part of March, and a few weeks into April.

A report from Samuel Nkailu
CHRISTIAN SUPPORT GROUP
Information

Samuel Nkailu

Since GCSL including set as a goal to lead and inform young people. The Youth House is open to different social groups and their activities. It is in this way that the house welcomes groups of all faiths :

• Group Meetings
• Workshop for Education
• Meetings for prayer groups and retreat
• Party at the graduate
• Wedding party

For this year 2013 we have in sequence to this day received :

• Full Gospel prayer group for 4 days
• The group Campus for Christ , for 5 days
• The group of young married for information about their children’s schooling
• prayer group CBCO / REHIBO , independent parish (district Mvuzi ) 1 day
• ” Mutual national sorority from Wombo , MUFREWO ” for the association’s birthday party  for one day .
• 30 young people from Kinshasa for a sports training ( football) with accommodation in the Youth House for a week 19 to 27 October 2013.

GCSL also holds its meetings in the Youth House , it is not clear in this report.

Our friend Teddy Sukami

The day began with a gathering at eight o’clock. Everyone were dressed up. The ladies had laid a careful makeup, some had a brand new look and new hairdo. The gentlemen wore tie and suit or jacket. There were a lot of photos taken and I transferred them to the computer and showed them on the big screen, to much amusement. The location of the diploma ceremony was at the newspaper La semaine Africaine and we went there at ten o’clock. The ceremony did not start until half past twelve, one hour late. But in Congo you have time, there is nothing to fuss about.

Edmond, one of the participants of the course, hotel manager and the right hand of Annicet, led the ceremony. Ruth, another participant, gave an eloquent acceptance speech. At that point, it was my and Bernt’s turn to present a certificate to the three MPs. We then held ​a short speech about the two weeks in Brazzaville. Then, the MPs handed over the diplomas to our students and future trainers. I said a few words on the importance of entrepreneurship to society. Finally Joseph, one of the MPs, thanked Bernt and me in English.

After the ceremony there was a press conference. There were about fifty people invited: journalists, bankers and representatives from various organizations, three television companies and a number of photographers. Everything was very well documented. The three MPs started by describing the situation and developments in their constituencies, and they were asked questions which they answered. When this part was completed, there was refreshments with a variety of snacks. Bernt and I had a concluding meeting with the three MPs. We underlined that it is now that the job of the trainers begin, and that they need support to make it work. They agree with us and are committed to meet with them regularly and support them in various ways. We also agreed that our visits in the future will be financed from Congo.

We took a picture of the whole group with their certificates, including the MPs and us mondele. We said goodbye to each other and took a taxi to the ferry which departed at four o’clock. In Kinshasa, we were met by our new friend Teddy Sukami, director on a high level from the Direction Generale de Migration, abbreviated DGM. He was waiting for us in the duty manager’s air-conditioned room. At the passport control, I showed Teddy’s business card to the officials and we were immediately escorted to him. Having good contacts is a great asset. It solves many problems, as well here as elsewhere in the world. In addition, when an influencial person is kind and thoughtful, he/she is invaluable. There are many Congolese with these personal qualities.

Teddy brought us back to his office. He donned his uniform and then he took us to the N’djili Airport. He stayed with us the whole time until we got to the gate. He wanted to be sure that everything worked. Passport control, customs officers and other’s seem to be his subordinates. Teddy introduced us to the airport manager. It was nice to see him, but he didn’t seem as pleased to se two mondele.

First we visited Nzo Binati guest house where we met Yapeco. He was in Kinshasa in business. He wants to say hello to all the Swedes who know him, therefore I present his greeting here. On the way to the airport we drove on Boulevard Lumumba. The two directions are separated and there are four well lit lanes in each direction. Some sections were not finished, but there is certainly developments in the capital. The airport N’djili has also been renovated both indoors and outdoors, a happy surprise. Results have been made from the 50 USD we travelers pay every time we’re traveling from Congo Kinshasa. But there are still people approaching you, offering services that you do not want and do not need. But on the other hand, maybe they are entitled to it, it is probably their livelihood.

MP Annicet Gomas

In the latter part of last week our group of trainers grew to fifteen. Unfortunately, all of them were not there from the beginning. Despite this, it worked well. The participants have been dedicated and alert. Today, there has mostly been presentations. They have left their CV to us, and they have made a descriptive report of their place of residence. In this, they have written about their ideas of how they want to work with people who want to become entrepreneurs. They have outlined different businesses. They have described the characteristics of a good entrepreneur. During the week, we’ve talked a lot about values. Fair play and honesty stood in high regard in the group.

They have described their companies in numbers with calculations and budgets. The calculations caused vivid discussions in class. Our friends are well equipped when it comes to talking and discussing, there is no limit to the words. We would like to have a little less talk and a little more workshop. But besides that, the group has worked well and we’ve had a lot of fun together.

Our interpreter Roy, 23 years old, has been superb. He is punctual and friendly. He lives near our hotel. He told me today that he was born in the US and that he was five years old when he came to the Congo. His father was a diplomat. Now he is studying at a university here in Brazzaville and has taken time off to be with us. Late afternoons and evenings he devote to his own studies.

Thomas, one of the participants ended the day’s lessons with a prayer. He prayed for God’s blessing on all participants, that they will succeed in bringing about change and that the contents of the course will be put into action. Everybody were joined in prayer.

Then Annicet, the influential MP, held a speech in which he underlined that it is now that the job begins. It is now that the theories are put into practice. He declared that their MP’s have expectations of them, and that the towns where they live also have expectations. Annicet had put both carrot and stick in his speech. And he highlighted our motto: Side by side and hand in hand – together we change the world. He also talked about the importance of prayer and having faith in God, a natural part of Congolese life and therefore a great asset.

We also got a visit from the captain of the Salvation Army in Boko. She had a long talk with Annicet. Probably about affairs in Boko.

Now they will go out to teach entrepreneurship. We have tried to prepare them with the knowledge, encouragement and hope. Each new day is an opportunity, another motto we emphasize. We hope that they will succeed. Tomorrow we will have the diploma ceremony and a press conference.

A spectator of my friend Bernt

When I was done with the morning’s desk work I got an email from my dear wife with congratulations on being father. On my departure from Sweden, she had given me an envelope that I was not supposed to open until the 10th of November, Father’s Day in Sweden. Now, I opened it and I was touched by the love of my family. Still, after more than 40 years, it feels great to be called “daddy”. The connectedness and affection is deeply felt even though the family is now scattered across three continents. Besides congratulations I got a pair of socks with the text “Dad” on them. Now I’m wearing the documentation that I’m a dad.

I borrowed Bernt’s camera, and took a walk around the neighbouring blocks. Interesting enough, there were simple houses and even very simple houses next to huge and lavish houses. The houses are a direct reflection of the wealth of their inhabitants, and the variation of living standards and conditions are enormous. In this neighbourhood there were a few rich, a lot of less affluent and a large amount of poor citizens living next door to eachother. They must consider the social differences peacefully, otherwise it would not work. A baker on a motorcycle was distributing bread. The baguettes stood upright, very tightly, in a large box on the luggage carrier on their way to the consumers.

For the first time, Bernt and I took a taxi by ourselves. We are making progress now and then, and our confidence increases. To cope on your own is a need that is deeply rooted, all the way from childhood. The taxi companies seems to be using regulated pricing and as far as I understand they have unit prices, from 1,000 CFA to 2000 CFA. CFA 1000 is equal to two USD. The taxi drivers seem to be fair. We went to the Plateau Church. Afterwards, we visited an English woman, married to a Swede who is principal at Mansimo, she spoke Swedish. Then we met Peter Wärnelid, a missionary worker of many years in both countries of Congo. It was a very interesting encounter considering his experience of these countries. He is now director of ASUDH, a humanitarian organization that was founded during the Congo wars. He is now focusing on how the Equmenia Church should cooperate with it’s sister churches. Then we talked a little with a Swiss man working for the Navigators. We also got to say hello to the church’s pastors.

Myriam came to our hotel at about five o’clock, and we went through how we will work in the future. She received a large amount of digital documents on educational activities for entrepreneurs. The OSDO group, which met for the fifth time on Saturday will need to meet a number of more times. Knowledge is the most important thing we have to convey. The students also need to be followed up. Myriam takes responsibility for the education. We consider her to be well suited for this task.

Ravie is accounting her business

When the clock struck 8 this morning we had an almost full classroom to our great delight. The participants started with presenting the homework from yesterday. Ravie reported on her fish enterprise. Her business plan is to buy fresh fish, which she will clean, salt and dry and then sell it. As usual, there was a lively, and sometimes loud, exchange of views. It is only natural to be loud and use the whole body to demonstrate your arguments in Congo. But in the end everybody agreed that Ravie’s business idea seemed to be sound. It appeared profitable to buy fresh fish, clean it, salt and dry it and then sell it. At 10.30 a.m. I had to go to Gothia Cup and I left Bernt to take care of business.

At eleven o’clock we were at Gothia Cup. Myriam had gathered the OSDO group at ten o’clock, but when we arrived they had all disappeared. Myriam phoned some of them, and soon the whole group was gathered again. This was their fifth lesson in entrepreneurship. I had prepared a few exercises. Some of them we did in class and the rest was homework for next Saturday. The idea was that we would end the lesson at two o’clock. But then, they wanted to buy me coffee. Last time, I bought them coffee and a snack and now, they wanted to reciprocate. At three o’clock we were ready to go home. But then, they wanted to thank me and they wanted to document it on film. One by one they walked up and thanked me by the hand. This is probably the most documented farewell I have ever experienced. And it was bilingual – they thanked me both in French and Kikongo. The ability to express gratitude is a beautiful feature of the Congolese.

I had a chat with the Congolese man who is responsible for Gothia Cup in Brazzaville. It is a collaboration between BK Häcken in Gothenburg, Ekumenia Church and the CEC Church. Four young Swedish volunteers are working there now. There should have been full activity in the sport center today, but since it is raining heavily the activities were canceled. He told me that about 450 young people are involved in the Gothia Cup. And he said that they don’t just teach them how to play football, but also give them a set of values ​​for life. They have also contributed a few star players to Europe and South America.

We went home by taxi which is the most common way to move around in Brazzaville. It’s also pretty cheap. At one point the main road had become a big lake and the taxi driver took a side street, where we got stuck in a mud hole. But there are always helpful people so it was quickly solved. People are not afraid to step out of their cars and help push another car out of a hole, even if they are sprayed by mud.

Trainer Edmond Raoul Dieu Béni

Herbert, our troubadour sang for us today too, and when he started with “When the saints go marching in” Bernt joined him in a duet that was well appreciated by our friends. The piece created a good mood in the room. We’ve been working pretty hard every day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. with only a couple of short breaks. Then it’s nice to relax together and sing for a while. Having fun also enhances the learning environment, the brain remembers more when you are having a good time.

Today, the whole group was present; fourteen aspiring trainers of entrepreneurs. And we have had an efficient day in contrast to yesterday which was a little sluggish. But today there were no obstacles. We continued on the production cost estimate of yesterday and we went through the design of market surveys. Then we did a marketing budget that was followed by a budget of financial results. Unfortunately, our prospective agrobusiness got negative results of 2,861,000 CFA corresponding to 40500: – SEK. The obvious homework for the group became to slim down on the fixed costs, in order to get positive results. With lesser costs for cars and a smaller salary to the CEO, it would be possible to turn minus into plus. We’ll see tomorrow how they solved the slimming.

For homework, they will also do a similar audit and the financial planning on a business that they would like to start or others to work with. They have had homework every day. No one should have to be idle. Today, everyone has also been photographed. Everything should be documented, both the knowledge they hopefully have embraced, and its potential reflection on the outside.

Unanimously, we decided to continue tomorrow, Saturday between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. We have worked through most of the material and tomorrow will be a day of repetition and exercises on the various parts. Initially, there would have been a diploma ceremony tomorrow. The ceremony is postponed until Tuesday morning when we will combine it with a press conference at the premises of the newspaper La semaine Africaine.