Shonacongo Blog

One of the best parts of my work with SHONA is that I am always learning.  On most days, I tend to see the glass as half-full, and I love doing something so challenging and interesting.

Of course, there are also those half-empty kinds of days,when the fact that I am always learning, seems to directly point to the conclusion that I must know very little about what I am doing.   And it is true.   I am neither a sewing expert nor a technology expert, yet somehow I have found myself designing clothing and designing websites.

Fortunately I have also learned that the squeaky wheel gets the greese.  SHONA is growing quickly and a while ago I wrote a blog entry about how swamped I was, trying to figure out blogging, and tweeting, and SEO and a thousand other acronyms that seem to inhabit the online world.  I was frustrated with the homemade look of our website, and felt like there was just so far to go and I might never get there.

After all, I live in Congo, where the electricity works occsionally and the internet works occassionally and if I am really lucky I might get an hour or two where both are working at the same time.

So it is a bit hard to be on the cutting edge of technology, even if I did know what I was doing. Which I don’t.

But what never ceases to amaze me is how generous you all are.  I wrote that blog entry, and was immediately swamped with offers to help.  For free.

And so we find ourselves here, with a brand new website,  and even a brand new SHONA blog.  (Don’t worry I will still keep up with my personal blog, so read them both!)  Our new website and blog was created by NTglobal who offer a range of business services as well as all kinds of technology solutions. They have been incredibly generous, great to work with, and have done a fabulous job, as you can see.

And see our great new logo?  That is the work of Rena at Ali Pro Services. She has an amazing eye for design, whether it is for a logo, a brochure or a website.   For us she has created not just a logo but incredible new brochures and labels, that you will see just as soon as you buy something! She is a great advisor and designer and also knows a heck of a lot about Congo.

And check out our facebook page. That is the work of one of our customers, Lynn.  She found us on ebay, bought a dress, and has been a friend ever since.  She noticed we didn’t have a facebook page and set one up.

Let me make this clear.  These are people that I have never met.  In fact I may never meet them face to face.  Yet each of them have inexplicably gone out of their way to help us. (So please help us thank them. Visit them first if you are looking for help with website design, business solutions, or graphic design. I would recommend both of these companies to anyone and particuarly to a small organization or business looking to grow. Visit www.ntglobal.org and www.aliproservices.com.

The craftspeople I work with are talented at sewing and at so many other things.  Watch these seriously disabled women hop on a motorcycle taxi or climb a flight of stairs, and you will find yourself doubting all the limitations that you think exist in this world.

But the SHONA women  are amazed by all of you as well.  They see their faces, their words, and ultimately the work of their hands somehow, miraculously carried to the other side of the world and they wonder who has carried them there.

You have to really understand the lives they have lived.  They grew up in small villages in Congo.  They never went to school, and barely left the house, because of their handicaps.  They speak no international languages and never imagined having friends so far away.  But somehow, they have arrived in your computers and in your lives.

It is through the work of supporters like NT Global and Ali Pro Service, our dear friend Lynn and many others, that they can share their world and their work with you.

Today is a celebration.  This thing started so small.  Look at all the projects that start with so much more.  Yet we have made it so far.  Thank you to each of you who have helped us on this journey.  We still have a long way to go, but we are so happy to know that you are here with us along the way.