Nabintu Speaks on Education and Development at World Affairs Conference

The executive director of Future Hope Africa shared reasons for optimism and remaining challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Nabintu (Bintu) Mujambere, executive director of Future Hope Africa, recently had the opportunity to address the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Conference on World Affairs regarding education and development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The conference, Feb. 12-15, featured more than 30 panel discussions at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.

Here is a highlight from her presentation:

“Basic education is key for any hope in Africa; then comes entrepreneurial training and leadership development. I and my staff work with these issues at the grassroots level in Bukavu every day. People are hungry for education.

“Many NGOs are slowly changing from just giving aid and assistance to teaching life skills. You’ve often heard the adage, ‘Give me food and I will be hungry again, but teach me how to fish and I will never be hungry.’ I see it with my small organization as we work with modest family leaders, mostly mothers, training them how to start a small business.

“After our training course, they are required to develop a business plan and can be eligible for a microloan. Now, I am talking very small businesses and loans starting from $100 to $1,500. Sometimes this means selling pots and pans on the street and raising and selling chicken eggs, but this is changing lives in Bukavu and giving hope.”