Remember Mama Youyou? We've written a lot about her.
She climbs trees with her best friend.
She talks honestly about finding love and growing old in the Congo.
She finds skinny people shameful.
She learned how to swim.
She taught me the greatest lesson I've ever learned about the lottery of life.
And she's an all around better mother than I'll ever hope to be. I still take my mama cues from her.
She's one of the main reasons we started this blog in the first place. We wanted to tell stories about her and other African women just like her. She's brave, she's smart, she's funny, she bosses her husband around. All my favorite qualities in a woman.
Lately, school fees have been going up and she lives in the poorest country in the world, so yeah. Times are tough. But unsurprisingly, she has an excellent plan.
She wants to start a chicken and egg farm.
This, I know she can do. She's raised chickens since before we knew her. She's good at it. She's got the space at her house and she wants to turn it into something sustainable.
So she approached a friend, who set her up with one of those newfangled websites to help raise money. Here it is. Give $5. Give $15. Give more. You don't get charged unless she reaches her goal. Consider it. I cannot think of a more direct and effective way to support a Congolese woman.
If you're still not convinced, this idea of direct cash giving is quickly becoming one of the most studied and chosen solutions to global poverty. Read more about it here. Or look up one of the hundreds of scholarly articles supporting giving cash directly.
P.S. Hey, Sister-of-mine, remember when she made all your bridesmaid's dresses from J Crew pictures (and battled the Congolese police on your behalf)? You are especially obligated.
Here's that website again: Mama Youyou's Chicken and Egg Farm in DRCongo.