Your help needed

Category: Community Work, Epulu, Mbuti Pygmies | Date: Nov 13 2007 | By: admin

Makubasi and Issa who worked for us for over ten years collecting leaves for the Okapis are retired today and have a big dream. I would like to help them to make that come true. Issa who is widower and Makubasi divorced have no longer the much needed support which woman in Africa’s society provide to their spouses and society. Although they are still living with their clan the life condition is very sad. This is the reason why I will help them to get their own house and to make sure they will never get wet again. When raining the roof has to be of good material such as corrugated iron. To buy all the building material and hire some people for construction I would need US$ 500.- You can read more about them here.

This are the traditional Mbutie houses

Makubasi with his grand children

This is Issa with his grand children. The house in the background is what I have in my mind. The roof would be irrogated iron and not Mangungu leaves which have to be replaced every couple of month.

Difficult to believe but this is where they sleep today. The only luxury they have at night is the mattresses I gave them a while ago. The last years of their lifes should be more comfortable they deserve it.

Rosie

24 Responses to “Your help needed”

Wanda, Atlanta, on 14 Nov 2007

I will send a donation today or tonight — yes they should have a roof in their old age - they deserve that and more!

Lisa, California, on 14 Nov 2007

I just sent $25. I hope it helps. I surely hope to have a roof over my head when I am retired. Thank you for helping Makubasi and Issa with a new house and taking care of them and thank you for getting the word out to us, so that we can help you. Lisa

Christine C., on 14 Nov 2007

This just brought tears to my eyes…I find that happens a lot on these WD blogs! Rosie, you are right, these gentle men deserve a nice place to live during their well deserved retirement.

Virginia, on 14 Nov 2007

Dear Rosie, I hope you get all the money you need for such deserved cause. Please keep us updated on how you are doing.

angie. Brit in LA, on 14 Nov 2007

Sent you $25.00. Am sure you will exceed your target, the wildlife direct readers are a pretty fabulous bunch of people.:-)

okapi, on 14 Nov 2007

Hallo Wanda It is great to see the generous respond to my last post. So far I haven’t told them that they will get the house they wish. I can see they will be happy people.
Rosie

okapi, on 14 Nov 2007

Hi Lisa the house will make a difference in their future live. With all the help I get now I know their wish will come trough. I hope to finish the house before end of this year and of course everyone will be able to see the progress.
Thanks a lot for your help
Rosie

okapi, on 15 Nov 2007

Hi Virginia probably everyone will be interested to see how the construction of the house is evolving
Rosie

okapi, on 15 Nov 2007

Hi Christine a water prove roof over their head will make a big difference.They have been talking to me about this a couple month ago. Back then I was not sure if I would ever be able to resond positive to their desire But this support I get from all of you gives me the confidence to suceed. Thank you very much
Rosie

okapi, on 15 Nov 2007

Hallo Angie it is amazing how generous the audience of wildlife direct is responding. Thank you so much for your donation
Rosie

antonio e baby italy, on 15 Nov 2007

Hallo Okapi A little donation for Issa and Makubasi from Italy…

Mark, on 15 Nov 2007

I am surprise and sad at the sight of your staff - after ten years of employ they look so poor. Perhaps they are they not being paid enough.

Sheryl, Washington, DC, on 16 Nov 2007

Hi, I just made a donation towards Makubasi and Issa so they can have a nice house. Keep us posted and let us know how the fundraising is going.

Jim G. (from Massachusetts USA), on 16 Nov 2007

I just made a donation towards Makubasi and Issa’s house … make sure I’m on your November report … ~James G.

Jim G. (from Massachusetts USA), on 16 Nov 2007

I don’t think any of us sitting behind our computers with electric service, running water, and a paved road can even concieve of how poor rural Congolise are, much less how difficult it must be to run a non-profit sanctuary under such conditions … some are probably lucky to get one square meal a week! … I am in no position to be critical of any peaceful person in the DR Congo and I’d offer that very few others in the world are either … so, perhaps, we should concentrate on helping WildlifeDirect support people who are receptive to outside assistance … you can see from the blog that everyone at the Okapi Reserve works very hard for whatever they get … I guess the more we give, the more they get … I hope I make sense.

Jim G. (from Massachusetts USA), on 17 Nov 2007

I left out above ‘indoor plumbing’!

Wanda, Atlanta, GA, on 17 Nov 2007

My entire outlook on food, water, and foolish spending has changed since this blog - maybe if we continue our support of people like Issa and his family it won’t be the standard “rich get richer and poor get poorer” because they feel so… rich in the little we can provide it is just completely heart warming somehow!

okapi, on 17 Nov 2007

Hi Mark I can fully understand your reaction as the pictures are giving the impression this people are living in misery. May be you are aware of their way of living! As hunters and gatherers they are not settled to only one particular place rather changing a lot their locations. Therefore we call it camp and not village. It is not in their habits to purchase property and build houses like the Bantus do. If they feel moving back to the forest they just take all their belongings and go. Issa and Makubasi both used to follow their clan during the hunting and honey season. It is only lately as their physical ability doesn’t allow them to walk big distance anymore they stay now more or less at the same place. I think we have to accept their way of living even if many of you are chocked and have difficulties to accept the how it looks. I will always be there for them when they need my help like now building a house. Continue to assist them with medical care, food and pocket money. It is not my duty to tell to every Pygmy how to share the salary they earn every month. Believe me they are happy people.
Rosie

okapi, on 17 Nov 2007

Hi Antonio thanks a lot for the donation it will help to make two special people very happy

okapi, on 17 Nov 2007

Hi Sheryl it is overwhelming the support I get to realize this project thanks a lot
Rosie

okapi, on 17 Nov 2007

Hi Jim recovering from a ten year war which paralized and set back the entire economy in this region left the populaton in poverty. Even three year after the unrest has ended in this part they still feel the impact of that thime.
Rosie

Jim G. (from Massachusetts USA), on 18 Nov 2007

Thank you Rosie … :-}

Jim G. (from Massachusetts USA), on 18 Nov 2007

Rosie & Somba … Do you know why Ellen Brown stopped blogging?

okapi, on 23 Nov 2007

Hi Jim Unfortunately I don’t know why she gave up blogging and her posts are no longer published on WD.
Rosie

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