anyone travelling from the USA to Africa?

[Sonja]

Dear all,

Is anyone going (or knows anyone that is going) from the States to Congo or some of the countries nearby like Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda?

Namely, I'm working for a village in DR Congo on an agriculture project, and our volunteer from Texas would send a 1 pound package of seed that the community needs, but it's too expensive to send it directly. A friend has already brought one package last year but hail has destroyed a lot of it. (There are mostly corn and beans)

So we need someone who would be willing to receive a package and bring it there, and our local representative would be in touch with the person and take care of it. We would appreciate very much if someone would be willing to help us with this. The community should start planting in September.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Sonja

P.S. You can read about our work here
http://www.nabuur.com/en/village/walungu/project

[Todd Petitt]

Check with Beth Heckel of Think Humanity

[Enoch]

Hey Sonja,
Am happy to hear about you.
You are doing amazing job,
God bless you.

[Beth Heckel]

Sonja, I am leaving June 6, but I suggest to send it because one pound will not cost much. I have a very safe address and I know the seeds will arrive safely. If you wish to send them here is the address:
Wereje Benson, Program Manager
Think Humanity
P.O. Box 52
Hoima, Uganda

This is in Hoima District in Uganda just 50 miles from the border of the DRC near Lake Albert. The refugee settlement where we work is on the border of the DRC. I am not sure how your contact person will get the seeds. Benson attends Makarere University in Kampala so that is another option yet a little further from the border of the Congo. I have another contact from the N. Kivu area and she is near the border of Rwanda and DRC. It's just something to throw out there --I can give you a quote on what it would cost to mail the seeds to our Hoima address. Thanks, Beth Heckel, Think Humanity Pres. and founder.
You can email me at [e-mail] also.

[Sonja]

Beth, thanks a lot!

I'll email you soon.

Best,
Sonja

[Cliff and Mary Snyder]

Cliff and I are going to Ethiopia in August.

[Cathy Fett]

Sonja, I think there is a team from Maine heading out with FAMA to the Great Lakes Region in August. Contact Barb Appleby ([e-mail])

HELP International may be sending another team to Uganda around the same time. Contact Jean Kaye ([e-mail])

[Sonja]

Cathy and Mary thanks a lot. I will write to Barb and Jean, and will check with our Local Representative if and how he could get the seed from Ethiopia.

Sonja

[Sonja]

Mary, our local representative from DRC, Guillaume, says that Ethiopia is too far away, so the only way would be to mail the seed from Ethiopia to his friend in Kenya who would then bring the package to him.

In the meantime, I heard from Jean from HELP International, who informed me that the team is coming to Nairobi in August, so they can give the seed to Guillaume's friend... I think that solution would be easier...

The problem is that the seed should be planted in September, and if we get it to Kenya in August, I'm not sure if we will have enough time to get the seed from Kenya to DRC on time.

So if you hear of anyone going sooner to the region please let me know.

Thank you again for the help!!! It means a lot for us.

Sonja

[Sonja]

Hi Cathy and everyone,

Jean from HELP International is willing to take the seed :o) The team will go to Nairobi and Guillaume's friend who lives there will take it and bring or send it to the DRC :o) Hope it will work. Thanks a lot for your help!!!!

Sonja