MAMAFRICA ANNUAL REPORT

2014

Produc ts wi th purpose

www.mamafricadesigns.com

2014 HIGHLIGHTS

Empowering women of the Democratic Republic of Congo through education

2014 EVENTSClockwise from top left:Fashion show in Goma, DR Congo with Yole! Africa; Ashley, our director represented MamAfrica at four universities, two high schools and two conferences; we participated in 22 sales events throughout the United States; Rebecca, MamAfrica board member, and Ashley with summer interns during their Congo visit.

NEW INITIATIVE

Our nursery cares for children (under the age of five) of the women in our program, providing them with pre-school education

MAMAFRICA PRODUCTSZAWADI CLUTCH

KITENGE LOVE TANK

FURAHAWRISTLET

MEG MARKETBAG

FAIR TRADE FEDERATION“Congratulations! A Screening Committee reviewed the MamAfrica Designs application and accepted you as a new member. Welcome to the Fair Trade Federation! MamAfrica was accepted as a fair trade company in May 2014!”

Fair Trade Principles

1. Create opportunities for marginalized producers 2. Develop transparent relationships 3. Build capacity 4. Promote fair trade 5. Pay promptly and fairly 6. Support empowering working conditions 7. Ensure children’s rights 8. Cultivate environmental stewardship 9. Respect cultural identity

PHOTO VOICE PROJECTSauti ya Congo (Voices of Congo) MamAfrica Summer 2014 Blog Series, 4th EditionBy Danielle Allyn

For Nabintu Charlotte, the values of unity and equality, of transcendent “oneness,” are especially important. A widow and a woman living with a chronic illness, Nabintu practices self-acceptance daily in the face of communal discrimination.

“Since being enrolled at MamAfrica, I have begun to feel like I truly am someone, like I have value,” Nabintu explains. “Now even when I wake up and feel pain, I can push through because I have learned to accept myself. With my income from MamAfrica I am able to pay my children’s school fees. My children no longer face discrimination among their peers. When they go to school, they live life as if they were like any child with both parents still alive.”

Horthense also places great value on the education of her children. Appealing to an important aspect of many African cultures, Horthense believes that to care for a child is a community’s responsibility rather than an effort by one individual alone.

“The world must work together to bring lasting peace to Congo. The world has a responsibility to care for Congo’s children – to ensure that they learn and grow in peace.”

IN THE PRESSMamAfrica: Building a better life for women in the Congo Ashley is most proud of MamAfrica for providing these women with jobs and a reliable income: “The ability to have a salary means everything. It means they can pay for hospital and school fees, they can rent homes, they can purchase nutritious food.”

Congo women stitch together a community of beauty and strength “MamAfrica offers monthly literacy programs, trauma counseling, healing arts, and educational programs for the families of each artisan.”

BOARD OF DIRECTORSMEMBERS

ADVISORS

Jim Siplon US President

Rebecca Cooper US Vice President

Brooke Galloway US Treasurer

Aline MalekeraDRC President

Amani Matabaro DRC Vice President

Laura ZavelsonErin McElligottJody Olsen

“I support Mamafrica Designs because they invest in local solutions. Too often outsiders have come to Congo to exploit its vast resources and impose their will on the Congolese people. Mamafrica raises up local leaders, respects local traditions, and employs the most vulnerable in Congo to affect change from within the country.” Rebecca Cooper

2014 DONORSWatu wa Matumaini / $1-$1000

Watu wa Amani / OVER $1000

Adrienne IngrumAimee MaagAlyson Van DykAndrew StoneAnna Leigh ConteApril HoustonAria NemiroArland JacobsonBen ShepardBernie ShepardBill GiordanoBrenda RichertBrittney BanningCambria WheelerCharlotte CordesChelsea EllisChelsey RobertsonChris HargartenChristian BattagliaClare ChamberlainClaudia SchulerConnie CarlsundConstance Kurz

Courtney CoxDeborah WilsonDoreen RiceDouglas ColdsmithDrewallyn RileyErika PhilipElisabeth Metully-StoneElizabeth CorleyElizabeth ViehEmma PardueErin RigsbyEva SvobodováGina NemiroHelene BrunoHilary CissokhoHolly MulfordHolly Dowling Igbal SeraJames JustusJanis WaltersJay NemiroJean HessJeanne GibianJeLyn Morvant

Jellyn DomingueJudith ZurlindenJules HartJennifer PenningtonJeremy DegagneJessica EarlyJody MerzJustine DiFioreKahindo MateeneKarla WagnerKari MyhreKari SyversonKathie DoleKathy KleinKay SkripkaKimberly DugganKimberly LimKimberly PoultonKimberly RayKristen SmithKrisin McAvoyKristen ArdenLaura Zazueta

LeAnn DeHoffLiwen ChenLucy ChurchM.A. JohnMarcella McCordMargaret BrennanMartha Catherine ShamblinMary Degagne Medi LisasiMegan SchmidlkoferMelissa JohnsonMerill MasonMia BremerNancy HearonNatasha GoodenNicholas BradleyNicole Evangeline GracePaige JustusPatricia JungPatricia HayesPatricia DelatePutt FamilyRachel PearsonRainbo Hultman

Raven BrunoRebecca CooperRebecca RogersRichard SternRobert DowRonald & Cynthia JohnsonSara GallegosSara KinseySerge MelansonShelby MillerShirley BrechbillShon HendersonStefan BischoffStephanie BookerSusan BennettSusan Stern Suzette RoachTeri RuggTim KellerThe Stern FoundationTricia SlettenTyler DealVerma MartinVictoria Raggett

The Mennonite FoundationThe Tides Foundation

IN-KIND DONATIONS

PARTNERS

IMPACT

2014

Grants: $50,000Product Sales: $61,000Donations: $21,000

This has allowed MamAfrica to pay a living wage to 53 women, each making $70-$250 a month, based on experience. In turn, their income has allowed 318 children to return to school.