Goats for sale!

This area between the railway tracks and rubbish dumps is where goats are brought into town everyday to be sold.

Lizard in the kitchen!

Lubumbashi women and the traffic police celebrating Mazembes victory last Saturday!

Football win for Mazembe!

Some good news for Lubumbashi was the one-nil victory against a Nigerian team in the final of the African Champions League played in Lubumbashi last Saturday! The city had been building up to the match all week with trees and railings being painted, as well as the rumour of a half day of work on Friday! Moise, the progressive Governor of Katanga and Kabila the first democratically elected President of DR Congo were both present at the match. At the final whistle the city erupted into exuberant chaos, with crowds of people rushing to the city centre throwing flour over the heads and faces of friends and passers by! The celebrations continued well into the night!

Christmas is coming!

The 2009 Congo Children Trust Christmas Cards are now available! These unique designs were painted by Joel Kidindwe a Congolese artist who is working twice a week with the childen at the centre. There is also a CCT notelet available using a design from one of the childrens own paintings! The cards are very reasonable only costing £3 per pack of 5 + £1 for postage and packaging. Please contact mark@congochildrentrust.org to order your packs!

Money in the bag!

A big thank you to a group, including former colleagues and their friends and families in Manchester who carried out a supermarket bag pack last Saturday. They raised £631.28 towards the work of Project Kimbilio! Thanks too to the management and staff at Asda, Hulme who kindly allowed the bag pack to go ahead. We really appreciate it!

The return of colour!

As well as toads and a lack of electricity, the start of the rains has meant the return of natural colour to the city. The dust has been washed of the roofs, cars and trees and the plants and trees that were showing signs of wilting with the lack of rain have sprung into life and colour. This is flamboyant tree that I have been passing since April and wondering if it had died and was ready for the chop! However it most clearly is not dead as I now remark every time I pass it in town!