I met Herve several years ago in Cote I'voire (Ivory Coast), West Africa. We were part of a public relations team there at the request of the finance minister under President Gbagbo.
Herve and I became fast friends and as guests of the President we were treated like VIPs with drivers, many appointments with important people and freedom to travel where we liked. My task was to shoot a documentary. That is another story....
A native of Congo Brazzaville or The Republic of Congo, Herve is smart, handsome, charismatic and passionate about the fate of his country.
He left Congo in 1987 for France and in 1989 came to the US to attend school. With a BS and MS in mathematics Herve is presently a teacher's assistant at Howard University and working towards his PhD. What weighs heavy on his heart though and at top of mind is concern for his people. The war that started in 1997 in Congo Brazzaville has all but destroyed his country.
Herve's real ambition is to return to his war torn country and help to lead his people out of despair. Congo Brazzaville is called the "neglected humanitarian crisis" and is in dire need of humanitarian aid. I met with Herve and his group Action Congo-Pool in DC recently to talk with them about their mission and how I can help. I agreed to produce a video for ACP as a PR and fund raising tool. They are presently working on an English version of their web site.
The first hurdle is - why would anyone here care??...we are so bombarded by African crisis that it seems hopeless at times and insurmountable. Doesn't matter. We are all able to make a difference in many corners of the world as well as our immediate communities. We know this is true.
Herve, Victor & The Professor
Travel Log of DC Trip
After Herve picked me up from the airport we picked up the Professor (his mentor from Senegal) and met at Victor's house. Victor is one of Action Congo -Pool's leaders and is extremely pleasant and hospitable. Victor and Herve made brunch for us, Victor's wife had the day off for mother's day...
Ham, onions, tomatoes were chopped for an omelet while Victor split avocados and prepared a tuna, balsamic vinegar, garlic and oil dressing. Coffee was served in soup bowls with a steaming pot of milk to pour, delicious juice from a box and warm French bread with butter.
We left promptly after brunch for a pre meeting with key ACP members, including the previous ambassador to Congo Brazzaville under Clinton's tenure, Andoine Ganga and host to the meeting.
I was treated graciously as a guest and felt welcome and comfortable immediately.
White girl in Congo town.....they quickly gave me a name "Lumamba" meaning a vine or plant that is resilient and flexible but very strong, unbreakable.
Mr. Ganga, Victor, Herve and myself met downstairs while other members arrived. I gave my advice, we made some decisions and talked about some options then went back up to present to the committee.
I was introduced to the room of 9 Congolese and felt incredibly humble, hot(Africans tend to not use AC), white and fascinated with the circumstances at which I found myself.
I opened by saying how honored I was to be in the company of these folks and questioned my resolute connection to Africa.
The response from the chairwoman of ACP, Monique, a formidable and quite beautiful woman was that of wisdom, gratitude and guarded trust.
She recognized my authenticity and their own undeniable connection to my country as well. It reminded me of a meeting in Cote I'voire with a humanitarian group that was trying to help rural women. At that meeting I was tired, it was the end of the trip and I was very touched by what they were trying to do and felt totally inadequate at what I might be able to help them with. Teary eyed and on the verge of totally losing it and this chairwoman told me to "be strong". I needed to be strong for them she said. At the ACP meeting I was resolute not to get emotional.
After we presented our ideas, there was much discussion and questions and then they proceeded on with other business. I could understand some of it. After about two hours of heated and animated debate in French and the occasional "NEXT!" the meeting ended. We finished up in the cool basement that also served as a bar, Hallelujah!
then made our way back to the dinner table where a feast of traditional Congolese food was served. Salty Cod fish, spinach and mushrooms, rice of course, some kind of turkey and then something else that was chewy - not sure...and cavasa...(sp?)then bananas.
Wine was poured, jokes and stories were told (in French or Lari) punch lines delivered with great force and MUCH laughter. Songs took over the night , one after the other with smiles of recognition and delight. More laughter. I had no real idea of what was being said or sung but laughed my ass off anyways and so enjoyed the company of these Congolese.
For a few moments perhaps they were able to dissuade the images of orphaned, sick and dying children with no food, shelter, no basic survival essentials and destroyed villages......the images that surely haunt their minds, the reason they started ACP. ACP is a glimmer of hope that exists for this neglected crisis.
More to come about this organization...
