LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR
totonga bomoi director receives quilters guild scholarship
August 2020
“To move forward on this Lincoln project, Ross and a team of two or more refugees/immigrants will need to seek the knowledge and skill training from the most elite quilters and artisans in Lincoln to ensure a high quality of education for future refugee and immigrant artisans.”
Life in himark magazine
making a difference
by Erin Ferris | April 2020
“Closer to home, Totonga Bomoi is expanding its outreach with the Lincoln Project. This endeavor will connect native Lincolnites with immigrants and refugees with the goal of creating socioeconomic change for marginalized communities. Entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to partner with a local expert to learn more about best practices in business and marketing.”
L Magazine
Friendship leads to helping women in Africa
by Mark Schwaninger | July 2019
“Totonga Bomoi is devoted to providing small business education and start-up capital to entrepreneurs across the Congo.”
LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR
Dreaming big from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Lincoln, Nebraska
by Cindy Lange-Kubick | June 2019
“[Hile] knew asking her for money was a hard thing for Aroyo to do and she wanted to help. But Hile asked a big favor in return: Could she sew 25 purses?”
DREAMING BIG
mandela washington fellows at the University of Nebraska (UNL)
with Katie Hile of Totonga Bomoi | Summer 2018 & Summer 2019
Since its start in 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders has empowered thousands of young people from Sub-Saharan Africa through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking. Katie presented the work and mission of Totonga Bomoi to twenty-five visiting Fellows. Together, Katie and the Fellows, simulated an activity within the Alternativ business curriculum used by our team in the Congo.
“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.” — William Arthur Ward
leadership lincoln
An interview with randy bretz and marilyn Moore
with Katie Hile of Totonga Bomoi | August 2018
the pollination project (TPP)
IMPACT GRANT AWARD DATE | April 2, 2018
The Pollination Project gave an additional $200,000 to 71 of their best projects all over the world, including Totonga Bomoi. The Totonga Bomoi project aims to build peace and prosperity in the Congo. This project believes that hope lies in the Congolese people, and that strong families and communities will be the ones to bring peace to the Congo.
HOW TO TIE YOUR HEAD WRAP
YOUTUBE VIDEO | November 24, 2017
Lilibeth Bustos Linares creates a tutorial for our customers on how to tie up their artisan made — Totonga Bomoi — head wraps.
Project Pangaia
SOCIAL IMPACT FEATURE | February 22, 2017
“Connecting humanity, one story at a time. With a mission to raise sociocultural consciousness and break boundaries through art, culture, and community, we travel the globe showcasing artisans and the story behind their craft.”
hAndcrafted to InsPire
FROM THE GOOD TRADE
with Katie Hile of Totonga Bomoi | December 2016
"The people we meet and experiences we share along the way impact our lives forever and you don't have to travel to Africa to be part of the change. It's something that you can do everyday by becoming a conscious consumer."
PODCAST: Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Friendship
from Breadbox Media
with Katie Hile of Totonga Bomoi | April 2016
“Build our future”: African artisans and American buyers work together
from DENVER CATHOLIC
with Katie Hile of Totonga Bomoi | April 2016
"I just ran the numbers, and in a two year period their income has more than doubled, Hile said. It's definitely having an impact not just in the money they're making, but that they're working together and learning how to budget. It's teaching them life skills that they're using not only to benefit themselves, but that they'll teach to their children and community."
START SOME GOOd
Did you know that the global artisan economy is worth more than $30 billion? That makes artisanal handcrafts one of the highest generating revenue streams for developing countries around the world, second only to agriculture.
Built on a platform of strong and sustainable business practices, we prioritize economic justice and human dignity as pathways out of poverty. Read through our Spring 2016 campaign where we raised more than $15,000 to support families in Congo.
the pollination project (TPP)
GRANT AWARD DATE | January 9, 2015
“Since inception, the women in the cooperative have produced 480 handbags and accessories. The impact of the earnings is significant. For example, one of the artisans and cooperative members has built a three-room home for her family, which is a significant improvement over their previous housing conditions, illustrating commitment to her family as well as showing how one person can affect a large number of people within the community-based culture of the Congo.”
THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: THE HOPE FROM WITHIN
FROM CIRCUS BAZAAR | October 2014
"If there is one thing any country should avoid hosting, it’s a world war. Dubbed “Africa’s World War,” the Democratic Republic of Congo has been the center of the most devastating conflicts since World War II. During Katie's year as a volunteer in the DRC, she was struck with deep sorrow witnessing the willingness of locals to build a better future, but their drive paralyzed with inability and inaction from the government."
KICKSTARTER
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT
146 BACKERS pledged $10,886 to help bring our project to life!
Our gratitude to corporate and religious institutions who have supported our work from the beginning.