According to African lore, there once was a baby eagle who thought she could not fly…Despite her attempts to fly, she remained on the ground, until one day a stranger showed her a sunrise. As the air filled with light, her destiny became clear. In one swoop, she raised her wings and soared upward.

My name is Chingwell Mutombu. I was born in Iowa (believe it or not) and raised in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Growing up I saw a lot of hopeful entrepreneurs in my country trying to make ends meet. They had a desperate will to succeed but there was no infrastructure to support their income generating activities. With a little help for their small businesses, they had the potential to earn a modest but decent living for themselves and their families. But with no access to start-up funding or simple business training, the endless wheel of poverty would just keep on turning.

It was up to me to be a “stick in the spokes” of that wheel. I had to become a banker to the poor.

The DRC, which was known as Zaire between 1971-1997, is one of the most impoverished countries in the world with a legacy of violence that continues to this day. The war in the DRC that just ended five years ago was the world’s deadliest conflict since World War II…yet hardly anyone outside Africa even knew of its scale or ferocity. When I came back to the United States as a teenager – again to Iowa – I returned with a passion and a sense of obligation to make a difference in the lives of people back home.

It wasn’t obvious to me what I could do. The challenges are huge and I am just one person. For many years I searched for ways to help the struggling communities in the Congo. Then it hit me…all I needed to do to make a difference was to help one individual at a time. It was the only way and best way. I realized that for every journey that one takes, it begins with one step. A small step. And that’s how I got started.

Microfinance is a very powerful tool for ending the grind of poverty and a little goes a long way. I began sending money to the DRC whenever I could – about $50 at a time. With my mother’s help, a lending circle of 10 women entrepreneurs was eventually formed in Lubumbashi – a city in which 90% of its 1.4 million inhabitants are unemployed. We issued loans of $60 to each entrepreneur and the women established their businesses such as selling food or clothing. Some broke even quickly; others took more time, but with profits came the ability to pay back their loans…in full! With their loans paid off and their businesses growing, they moved out of the circle and were replaced by new women. The wheel of poverty had been turned into a circle of self-sufficiency!

The success of the pilot project greatly exceeded my expectations. We had found a way to really change people’s lives and set them up to be self-sufficient. The results emboldened me to capitalize on our success and expand our services to reach more people. By the summer of 2006, we had made a lot of progress and I decided to set up First Step Initiative as a formal 501(c)3 organization to be the backbone of our microfinance work in DRC.

I look at our work as a journey. In fact, the journey has just begun and the road ahead looks promising. First Step Initiative has embarked on a five year plan to reach and provide micro-financing opportunities to at least 11,000 individuals. I know this is an ambitious goal, but one I strongly believe we can achieve if we join forces. Fighting poverty is truly a task that none of us can do alone.

The mission that drives First Step Initiative is as old as the fable itself: to empower the poorest of people to create their own destinies and achieve their full potential. My story continues to unfold in the DRC. It is here that the sun is about to rise.

I invite you to become my Backer on Changents and join me in this effort to advance microfinance in the DRC. See my action opportunities for ways that you can help us achieve this goal.

Comments

Alex
November 24, 2007 - 6:35pm

Chingwell,

Welcome to Changents and thanks for posting your story. We exist to broadcast the stories of Change Agents like you who have found their own unique ways to move the needle on the world's most vexing issues. Hopefully, you've seen the story of Shawn Smith, founder of Agents of Change in Canada. Like you, Shawn is on the leading edge of micro-finance and blazing his own path to git 'er done! If you'd like to connect with Shawn, please let me know and I'd be happy to facilitate an introduction.

Alex

Chingwell
November 25, 2007 - 3:53pm

Alex,

Thank you very much for your warm welcome. Your kindness is greatly appreciated. I learned about Changents last week from the Chronicle of Philanthropy eNews and I was thrilled to learn about your work and decided to join Changents right away. Thank you very much for creating such a wonderful platform for change agents to share their stories, and learn from each other as we all try to make our world community a better place for all. So, I am very thrilled to be part of this dynamic group of people.
I just saw Shawn's story and in fact I was introduced to Shawn Smith a couple of months ago but I am going to contact him again. Thank you for suggesting that Alex and if you know of other people that you think I should connect with you, please let me know.

Chingwell

manekshaw
January 7, 2008 - 8:43am

My Dear co-changent,
Greetings. It may not be thought that I am bragging about my service to the society but it is hereby to present some data for a noble cause. Kindly allow me to submit that I am a National Youth Award winner-2007 from His Excellency the president of India 2007 Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, highest civilian Award for the youth in India, for my tsunami relief and rehabilitation activities during and aftermath of tsunami and defending the welfare of the children with Mental Retardation. Nominated for the another National Award from the Government of India on 3rd December 2008, Coordinator of Guinness world record event of planting 2 54 464 saplings in 24 hours. The number of saplings planted in memorial of as many victims of South Asian Tsunami worldwide. Within one year of its start activities my organization, EshaasEP, distinguished as best social institution safeguarding the welfare of the Persons with Mental Retardation and received 5 awards. I wish to expand the support base for my organization for work more efficiently and effectively. I Request that you and your friends circle and others who are all in touch with you may be appealed to support this noble cause. I am confident-filled physically challenged person. I can not walk 20 steps together but I move upto The President of India to receive my National Award. Kindly visit www.manekshaw.hi5.com wherein you can view all the testimonials of my activities in the photo album and Video section. May I request you to contact me at 9952688716 for any clarification?

Yours sincerely, at service,
Manekshaw

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