Yesterday, we spent some time with Mama Salome and her Asili Generation. Mama Salome's mission is to teach kids how to wash their hands, which requires some soap. But the most fun part of her lesson isn't the soap itself - it's the songs that go with it. Everyday, Mama Salome travels to a different community, teaching kids the importance of drinking clean water, washing their hands, and keeping clean. She uses songs to teach them the basics. And, she gives them a pamphlet to take home, which reminds them of the songs - and lessons - they learned. But since Salome travels to so many schools, and meets so many kids, she always running out of pamphlets. We wanted to do something to help. We printed a TON of new pamphlets for Mama Salome, enough to last her several months, seeing dozens of kids each day. This is special work for Mama Salome. But it's also special for the kids she serves. "The children get so excited about the pamphlets," said Mama Josee, Salome's … [Read more...] about Join Us in Song!

Mama Salome has a dream. She dreams that one day, every child in Congo will know and value the power of clean water. And even more, that every child will have access to it. Salome is the Community Engagement Manager for Asili, our social enterprise in DRC. That's why she calls her dream the "Asili Generation" - she believes that Asili can be the vehicle to bring her vision to reality. Clean water is life-giving. But as Mama Salome knows, so are clean hands...especially for kids. To get the cleanest hands, clean water is important. But you also need to have soap. And thanks to some generous friends, we were able to get soap for 15 schools in the area where Mama Salome works - a supply to last a whole year! The impact that this soap will have is no small thing. It will ensure that for at least one year, these kids will have clean hands, helping ward off sickness. And more importantly, Mama Salome will continue to help them learn all the proper ways to use the soap, a … [Read more...] about Clean Hands, Young Minds

Today is the last day of our month of gratitude - and what a ride it's been! We've learned that sometimes, taking just a moment to say a simple thank you can mean the world. You never know how far a gesture of gratitude can go for someone in need of appreciation. Our last stop? Thanking our ENTIRE Asili family in Congo. On day 365, we're throwing them a party. But not just any party. Family and friends are invited too, and we had an extra surprise – an option to take family portraits for their homes. Plus, plenty of goat kebabs to go around – and then some! Company parties don't always have the best reputation. Sometimes people bring their spouses, but for the most part people pay a visit and leave shortly after. But in Congo – and particularly for the Asili – this was not the case! Almost 100 people showed up to the party - spouses, children, cousins, and extended family. It felt like all of Bukavu was there. The energy was electric. We kicked the night off … [Read more...] about Party Like Its 2017

Valery is what you might call a renaissance man. He's a talented piano player. A Chinese speaker. A father of two. An expert in American movies (particularly romantic comedies).A philanthropist. And, a dedicated member of the Asili team. Valery manages the enterprise side of all three of Asili's social enterprises - that's a clean water business, health clinics, and agricultural cooperatives. But he brings his creative and diverse talent to everything Asili does, helping to craft Asili's strategic vision and exploring what the future could bring. We wanted to thank Valery for the long days and nights he's dedicated to building Asili up, and for believing in our potential to help change Congo's narrative for the better. And because we know that family is so important to him, we decided to do something special, for everyone. We took Valery and his two young boys out for a fancy dinner - a rare treat that they normally wouldn't indulge in. "Wow, this is really special, … [Read more...] about Renaissance Man

Asili clinics are spotless. We believe that beautiful, calm, and clean spaces can make all the difference when it comes to helping heal not only physical traumas, but emotional ones too. And all who walk inside Asili's doors remark on how clean and tidy our clinics are. But there's a big reason for that – our incredible cleaners. Asili cleaners work behind the scenes. Because it's often unseen, the job can often go without enough thanks. On Day Day 363, we wanted to share our gratitude with the cleaners in a big way - by giving them a goat! Goats are incredibly important in Congo. Given as a gift, they're a symbol of respect and also a source food. Not many people can afford meat on a regular basis. So having a goat around - which can feed dozens of people – is a big deal. It is not always the fanciest or high-profile job that's the most important. Often times, the unseen heroes are the ones who make all the difference. The Asili cleaners are a huge part of … [Read more...] about No Cinderellas Here!

The last week of gratitude has been dedicated to ARC’s social enterprise - Asili - in Congo. And everything Asili does is influenced by one man - Abraham Leno. Abraham is the Country Director for ARC in Congo. When you see Abraham interact with his team, you can see his unique style of leadership shine through. He cares deeply for everyone, and wants everyone to be their best selves through Asili. And he's also deeply respected - his team looks up to him like a friend and a father. Aside from his Asili family, Abraham has his own family back in the U.S. But until December, Abraham hadn't taken a day off – he hadn't seen them since June. Abraham’s hard work and caring heart is exactly why we wanted to thank him. He was soon leaving for Minnesota to speak at ARC's annual Changemakers Ball, and to meet up with his wife. So we knew just the thing for him. On Day 362, we thanked Abraham with a $500 visa gift card, that he could use in Minnesota's Mall of America, the … [Read more...] about Leading the Way

Jose is the head of Asili operations. He has a hand in everything from big picture strategy to the daily ins and outs of Asili to human resources and hiring. He takes on a lot. Plus, he was one of Asili's very first employees – he's believed in Asili from the very beginning. But everyone needs a day off every once in a while. A relaxed and refreshed mind can do wonders to put an extra pep in your step. So for Day 361, we thought there was no better way to thank Jose than to give him and his wife some much-needed time away in sunny Gisenyi! Gisenyi is a resort town in Rwanda, just a short boat ride away from Bukavu across Lake Kivu. And we couldn't wait to surprise him with the good news. When we told Jose and his wife Leotine that we were giving them a weekend away, they could hardly believe their ears. They couldn't remember the last time they had been on vacation. We asked them to take some photos of their weekend away for us. "We will, from the beach!" Leotine … [Read more...] about Yes way, Jose!

In the spirit of recognizing those who help make our work possible, we're turning now to one of our most important partners in Congo - the staff at Orchid hotel. When teammates from out of country come to work with Asili, we can always rely on the Orchids Hotel to look after our guests and provide them with not only a positive experience, but a delightful one. The Orchid Hotel is an oasis of peacefulness and rejuvenation. The staff alternates living on site for half the week, switching with their colleagues for the other half. They show a huge amount of dedication to what they do, providing excellent service, always. On top of that, the Orchids Hotel was one of Asili's first customers, purchasing both water and potatoes! So for Day 360, we're saying thanks and showing them a little hospitality this time around. Orchids staff put new meaning to the idea of service with a smile. From going out of their way to get to know you, to spending time sharing their stories … [Read more...] about An Oasis of Orchids

Today, we're turning our attention to the man who's in charge of keeping Asili firing on all cylinders. Meet the head of Asili operations, Alex. Alex takes care of logistics for Asili. And it's no small task ensuring that all three of Asili's business lines - including clean water sales, world-class quality healthcare, and agricultral cooperatives - are up and running for its customers. There's so much going on at once, but Alex makes it look easy. On top of being dedicated to his job, Alex is also a dedicated family man. We wanted to do something special to thank no only him, but his family as well. They're a big part of the Asili family, too. And their support of Alex's long hours and time away from home makes Asili possible. So on Day 259, we thanked Alex with a gift – good for the whole family. We surprised Alex with a new bike for his son and stylish new fabrics for his wife. And when he saw the gifts, the smiles wouldn’t stop coming. “Wow, thank you so much! … [Read more...] about Like Riding a Bike

In Congo, one of the things Asili is known for is water. We reach over 30,000 people with clean and safe drinking throughout Eastern Congo. But it's no easy task – the water flows from the top of a mountain through hundreds of kilometers of pipeline into water points throughout communities. There are certain people who are tasked with making sure the water flows smoothly, every single day – our plumbers. They tackle the leaks, blockages, and maintenance of the pipelines that provide the water our Asili customers depend on. For their service to the community, we wanted to thank them. Everyday, Asili plumbers walk the length of the pipeline, ensuring that nothing is amiss. That's a LOT of walking! It's a good workout, but it can be exhausting. It's important to stay hydrated, but they didn't have a great way of carrying water with them. So to say thank you, we got them all water bottles. But not just any bottles – these are especially designed for people on the go. … [Read more...] about Walk the Line