Following the success of her presentations about bonobo communication styles at the Museum at Campbell River and the Quadra Community Centre this summer, Kirsty Graham and her voluntary organization, Kosepela, were able to send $1,000 to support community projects in Wamba, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Campbell River-raised Graham travels to Wamba every year to research the behaviour of bonobos. She has come to know the members of the local community and has been welcomed to meetings of the local co-operatives where she has learned of plans for several important projects.
Kosepela was created by Kirsty and her mother Carol (of Quadra Island) to offer support to these projects. Last year Kosepela raised $600 for a community pharmacy project in Wamba, which is currently providing medicine at non-profit rates. This year they aim to raise $1,000 for Wamba’s printing and photocopying service, and $2,500 to rehabilitate a locally run coffee plantation at Lingondji.
In the following years, Kosepela will continue to raise money for DWR (Wamba Co-operative) and Lingondji, and possibly expand to help other communities.
Kosepela has launched a new fundraising initiative with the sale of their 2015 calendar. It features beautiful colour photographs of the bonobo population that Kirsty has come to know so well. The calendars cost $15 and are currently available at The Willows Market, Toad in a Tree, Ocean Mountain Yoga Studio and On the Rocks Climbing Gym.
One hundred per cent of post-printing proceeds will go directly to support community projects in Wamba, DR Congo.
For more information visit www.kosepela.tumblr.com