Introduction
Coins of Hope (COH) is a catalyst for sustainable and participatory development in Mpoyi village, with a vision to advance a spirit of self-sufficiency. COH ensures that the children of Mpoyi can complete an education at the Coins of Hope School and provides school uniforms, materials, and summer school. Coins of Hope also improves food security by partnering with parents to grow nutritious food on a cooperative farm, providing oxen to alleviate manual labour. We have added complementary training to introduce solar energy, smokeless cooking, and other skills that can advance community outcomes and bring practical solutions to rural poverty.
COH Summer School
The COH Summer School is held annually to provide practical training, cultural awareness, and life skills that enhance the year-round academic program. Past programs taught the Tshiluba
language, Luba proverbs, and the history of the Luba people and kingdom, among other topics. The 2022 curriculum consisted of -- a) an overview of COH history and programs; b) training in making chlorine for water purification; c) training in farming methods for parents; d) and for the students – how to make the solar carton cookers, and the solar light bottles; e) cultural appreciation through music and dance.
Community Empowerment Professional Partners (CEPP)
Community Empowerment Professional Partners (CEPP) is an organization of Congolese professionals in the Diaspora who implement development projects to build self-reliance in under-served communities in the Congo, namely training in water sanitation and hygiene, nutrition, leadership, women’s and youth empowerment, and solar tools. The members are leaders of separate projects who collaborate and coordinate periodic trips to the Congo to implement sustainable development projects in rural communities. CEPP has supported local projects such as Coins of Hope in Mpoyi, Congo, and also partners with Dr. Musau WaKabongo Science Education, Inc (DMWSE, INC). The CEPP team traveled to Mpoyi in July 2021 and offered training in solar cooking and lighting, using the fabric cooker Wonderbag, nutrition, and water sanitation classes, all conveyed in the local language and in French.
Water and Lights in Mpoyi
COH installed a water tank in early 2022 to capture rainwater for household and farming use. Normally, Mpoyi families walk 30 minutes to a dirty water source for their water needs. Now, families can access water next to the COH guesthouse. We hope to expand water distribution in 2023. COH partners with CEPP to teach Mpoyi families about water purification, with an aim to decrease water-borne diseases in the community. In addition, we partnered with CEPP to introduce lighting in Mpoyi village, which has no electricity. Borrowing from Liters of Light, we taught the solar bottle method in Mpoyi as an easy way to light the school and homes. We also partnered with WeCare Solar, to install lighting in the community center/guesthouse. We have a local team trained to maintain the equipment.