Action Kivu Fundraiser
It’s time for the Third Annual Action Kivu Fundraiser! Each year Alissa from Handmade by Alissa (and our Modern BOM series) organizes a fundraiser for Action Kivu, an organization that helps women and children who are victims of the conflict in Eastern Congo. The conflict in Congo has taken the lives of millions of people since 1998. Rape is used as a weapon of war, with estimates putting the number of rapes in the hundreds of thousands. The Action Kivu Fundraiser gives us all a way to support women and children in concrete, meaningful and lasting ways.

Last year Alissa and countless sewists in our online community raised over $15,000 to benefit Action Kivu. This year our Third Annual Action Kivu Fundraiser goal is $20,000. We can do this!
Alissa got involved in Action Kivu because her sister works with the organization. She writes, “Action Kivu provides some of the Eastern Congo’s victims of violence with the opportunity to rebuild their lives on a foundation of hope, dignity, and economic self-sustenance. Their approach is spearheaded through two programs. First, they run a sewing workshop that teaches women who are victims of the conflict to sew. This leads them to be able to support themselves and their families. Secondly, they pay for children to go to school which is not free in Congo…”

Sewists in the program, photo by Rebecca Snavely.
Alissa’s sister recently visited Congo to see the program in action. Alissa notes, “When my sister went to Congo she saw with her own eyes the good this fundraiser has done. She met women who are graduates of the sewing workshop and who are supporting their families while working on sewing machines that this fundraiser bought them; we’ve done real good for some women and children.”

Kids will go to school thanks to Action Kivu, photo by Catherine Haight.
Visit Handmade by Alissa to donate and to learn more about Action Kivu. Sew,Mama,Sew! is donating a $50 gift certificate to the fundraiser. Visit Alissa’s site to donate, then come back here and post a comment letting us know that you made your donation; we’ll draw a winner from all donation comments (after verification).

Alissa has organized a ton of opportunities to WIN FABRIC with your donation to Action Kivu. Visit Handmade by Alissa to learn more about the prizes. Your donation will send kids in the Congo to school, it will give women a chance to support their families through sewing and you might also win some really special fabric. Everyone wins. Donate today!
160 Responses to “Action Kivu Fundraiser”
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I donated, this is an excellent initiative and I am proud to support it.
I made a donation – my second year for participating in this very worthy cause.
Just donated to Action Kivu through Alissa’s website. Thanks for the additional opportunity to win and support of a great program!
melanie.stamant(at)gmail(dot)com
I donated. This is my first year hearing of it. How wonderful for so many to donate prizes.
I made a donation! ladyofshal (at)gmail(dot) com.
Ooops.. I meant ladyofshal(at) aol (dot) com
What a great cause to be a part of. I just gave my donation over on Alissa’s site.
I donated! It’s also my second year to do so! Thanks for this extra giveaway.
Thank you for making us aware, again, of this excellent organization. My donation is on its way to those lovely, shining faces in the Congo.
I have made a donation. What an excellent program! In my town we have a Women at Risk store that sells items handcrafted by women around the world who have suffered much like the women in this program.
Makes your heart happy to see that sewing can change lives. I donated.
Absolutely beautiful work! I was happy to donate to this cause.
I donated. So glad to be part of such an awesome community.
I made a donation through alissa’s blog!
I donated! I love this charity. What a great opportunity for us to help others!
What a great cause! I am happy to support it.
So happy to donate to this great cause!
Just made my donation. So glad to be able to help again!
I just donated! This is a great cause and I am happy to help. My paypal user name is silverelements47 for verification.
I donated to this wonderful organization.
What a great cause. I’m happy to donate and happy to see the amount of blog support for this.
Just donated! A very cool cause!
Just donated. Great to see what we can do as a community.
I am proud to say I donated to this very worthy cause
David and dianne
I donated $45 to this – sewing is a wonderful thing!
I was happy to donate to this very worthwhile cause.
I gave enough to purchase a sewing machine. Thanks for the great opportunity to help these women.
Thanks for spreading the word about this great work. Happy to support Action Kivu!
Just gave my donation. This is such a great cause anyway, but thanks for the added giveaway to sweeten the deal!
I donated – it’s such a great cause!
I just donated for a very worthy cause.
I donated to this good cause.
I’m in! Glad to see so many kicking in with great gifts for the donors, it’s a terrific incentive.
Just made my donation too! Thanks for helping to spread the word about this amazing cause.
I donated. It’s a great cause. Thank God for people who are generous. The giveaways are an extra incentive. Thanks!
Thanks for the opportunity to donate to such a great project. And thanks for the added incentive to make a donatation.
great project! thanks for being a part of it and sharing with all of us!
I donated to this wonderful cause. Thank you so much for supporting it too!
I donated to the cause. Thanks
I donated $60 – wonderful cause.
I donated — thanks for doing this!
I donated – thanks so much for the extra incentive and helping to call attention to such a wonderful program.
I donated for the solids bundle and the QuiltCon lecture pass! Thanks for the extra incentive
Whoops! Just realized that my paypal email is different from the email that I use for blog comments! But I definitely did donate
Thanks for participating in this fund drive. It appears to be a wonderful cause. I donated $45.00
i donated $25.00. great way to give back!
So glad to donate, glad to help these beautiful women.
Amazing what the crafting community can do. I am proud to play a small part by donating.
I dontated
I donated for my sister’s birthday. She spent time in Congo with Doctors Without Borders.
Thanks for publishing this opportunity to help these women. I donated enough to buy a sewing machine for one of the graduates.
I donated and feel so fortunate that I was able to do so. What a great cause!
Just donated to Action Kivu. As both a sewing enthusiast and public health professional, it’s definitely an organization I am proud to support.
I donated $50 – thanks for helping support this great cause!
I donated !
What a great cause
donated!
I usually funnel my charitable giving to my church, but this is such a worthy and compelling cause! Thank you so much for your work, and the women who are learning sewing will be in my prayers. Thank you!
Glad to donate to such a worthy cause!
I donated to Action Kivu and would love to be in your lottery as well. Thanks for this opportunity!
I donated and will post on our guild’s site about it.
How could I not donate, whether I win fabulous prizes or not? This is one of the best causes I’ve run across and love the opportunity to contribute. Thank you so much to those who’ve created this charity. Teach a man to fish….Teach a girl to sew….same thing!
I made a $60 donation today. I’m glad to help. Thanks for your incentive and publicity of the effort.
Donated!
Made my donation and am glad to support such important work.
I gave $25 yesterday! Thanks for donating to such a worthy cause!
I donated! I’m so glad to donate for someone to discover something I love so dearly!
I’m always glad to donate to such a wonderful cause!
Donated today. Thanks for the inspiration.
I donated, glad I could help
I am happy to have donated again this year. Wonderful charity.
Thanks to the lovely Anna Maria Horner for linking to this great fundraiser – the first year I’ve known about it. I’m happy to participate!
I donated to this great cause.
I donated to Action Kivu, such a wonderful initiative.
I just donated and wouls like to be in the running for the drawing. Also, could I have a tax receipt for $25? Thanks!
I just donated – what an incredible cause! Thanks for supporting it and spreading the word!
I made my donation to this wonderful cause. Thank you for your generosity
Hi All,
I appreciate the work that happens by and because of Action Kivu and also the opportunities for more sewing and fabric through the give aways. I donated $60. Thank you all!
wonderful fundraiser. i have donated
I gladly donated–it always feels good to help others in need, and it seems like Action Kivu is making a real difference in people’s lives. Thank you for spreading the word!
I donated $25, thanks for your wonderful giveaway.
Thanks for the opportunity and for making giving fun!
OK, I’ve donated. I love East Africa and I love crafts, so I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to help out. Thank you.
I just donated!
Happy to donate to this cause. Thanks for making us aware of the need.
I donated today! Wonderful to see women supporting their families through sewing.
I donated. Glad to help!
WHAT a great cause – glad i found the site and was able to make a donation. one click leads to another to another and you end up finding a wonderful idea!!!
I am very happy about this initiative. It’s a very good idea to give all these women something that will help support their families and be independent. Thanks for doing it
I donated! Please enter me!!
This is a terrific cause–one more example of the healing potential of sewing!
We have so much, they need so little…….. How can we not give?
I managed to donate, I think this is a great charity, anytime people can learn a useful skill I’m really excited about that.
Proud to have made my donation this morning.
Always happy to throw whatever extra I have toward Action Kivu, especially during the fundraiser!
SO happy to donate to this wonderful group!
I just made my donation to this wonderful cause. I’ve been to Africa and have seen first hand what an impact even a small donation makes!
Happy to donate to this wonderful organization.
Just donated to this truly wonderful cause! Thanks for being a part of it!
I commented above with a different email address than my paypal account. This is the correct one!
Just donated…what a great cause!
Happy to donate! Thanks.
Just donated. Excellent project .
Donated…what a wonderful cause..I am glad I can help even just a little bit.
I gladly donated $45. An exciting project.
I donated – I think this is a great thing the sewing blogging community is doing!
Donated!
I just donated to support Action Kivu. Grateful to have a chance to help these women help themselves!
Just donated!
Just donated! Please disregard previous comment (used wrong email address).
I donated to this amazing cause. Thanks for the nice contribution you have made.
I’m happy to donate to this wonderful cause.
I donated. Thanks for raising awareness!
I donated to the cause. Thanks for doing this!
I donated $25 to this special cause!
Just donated! What a blessing this organization is for so many women
I donated yesterday. What a wonderful cause!
I donated to Action Kivu. Thanks!
i donated! thank you for your awesome contribution to the cause!
Such a wonderful organization, I was happy to donate!
I’m always happy to support this organization. I donated this evening. Thanks for hosting an additional giveaway!
What an amazing project to help women better their lives and their children’s lives!
I just donated to this wonderful cause! Thanks so much for being part of this!
I’ve donated, what a great cause. Thank you to all who have donated prizes and made it that little bit extra special for those of us who are more fortunate.
I just donated! This was my second year making a donation – the work being done though Action Kivu warms my heart and I’m so happy to help even if it’s just with a little donation!
I donated. It’s such an amazing organization! Thank you so much for making a difference in the world.
I donated $25!
I just donated
I donated on the first day, since I think this is a great cause to give to!
I just donated to this wonderful organization. It’s a blessing to have this opportunity!
Donated! Great cause.
just donated! Happy to be part of Alissa’s wonderful fundraiser!
Just donated to this great cause!
I made a donation for this wonderful cause and am so glad to be able to help in some small way:)
Just donated! I love that this is a charity that helps people help themselves by giving them a livelihood.
I donated, this is an excellent initiative and I am proud to support it.
I donated! Thanks for participating too!
I donated, it’s such a great cause, a little makes a big difference.
Hey – I just donated $25 and thanks for the extra prize!
I just made a donation – what a great cause to contribute to!
I donated $25.00 today and feel really good about where the money is going!
I donated today. Thanks for being part of a very special thing.
Thanks for supporting. I donated.
donated
such a great cause.
I made my donation today; nothing like the last minute!
Hello! I donated to the cause twice. This is for donation #1 – $40. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to help people in need.
Hello! I donated to the cause twice. This is for donation #2 – $75. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to help people in need.
I donated! This is a great cause.
I donated to this wonderful cause!
I happily made a donation to Action Kivu.
thank you for helping support kivu. i love that so many are chipping in on this. i look forward to alissa’s fundraiser!
Glad to support this great cause.
I made a donation!
I made my donation today. I love helping this organization!
I’ve donated tonight. thanks for the give-away. it’s a very worthwhile cause.
Phew! I donated just in time!
I hope my donation can help some other women to obtain the same pleasure from sewing that I do.
I made a donation this morning. Love this awesome charity!
I donated too! What a great organization to be a part of!
So happy to be able to help such a wonderful cause.
Thanks for helping us help others with our favorite hobby. Made my donation this morning.