Dossier

Purpose: Development in two focus areas. Dairy production

dairy product production and marketing. Art education including
photography drawing and painting.

Geographical area: Bongo, Lepi, Huambo Angola.

Philosophy:

 Working with people regardless of national origin, race, tribal origin or identity, religious
belief, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
 Special emphasis on representing the traditionally underrepresented communities including
women, children and the developing community of glbti people in sub Saharan Africa.
 Operating under non-sectarian Humanist principles found in the Humanist Manifesto,
especially items:

o FOURTEENTH: The humanists are firmly convinced that existing acquisitive and profit-
motivated society has shown itself to be inadequate and that a radical change in
methods, controls, and motives must be instituted. A socialized and cooperative
economic order must be established to the end that the equitable distribution of the
means of life be possible. The goal of humanism is a free and universal society in
which people voluntarily and intelligently cooperate for the common good.
Humanists demand a shared life in a shared world.

o FIFTEENTH AND LAST: We assert that humanism will:

 (a) affirm life rather than deny it;

 (b) seek to elicit the possibilities of life, not flee from them; and

 (c) endeavor to establish the conditions of a satisfactory life for all, not
merely for the few.
By this positive morale and intention humanism will be guided, and from this
perspective and alignment the techniques and efforts of humanism will flow.

 The ideal that all people are inherently valuable and deserving of respect, fulfillment,
education, employment, adequate food, clean water and an outlet for creative expression.

Why Bongo?
In 1931 my grandparents came to Bongo Mission, Lepi, Huambo, Angola to begin their life’s work
with the people of the area. My Dad spent his life working among the people of the area as well and
learned to speak Umbundu, the local native language. Our roots are in this area and the people have
expressed to me thusly “this is your land, and we are your people”.

in the mid 1940’s a dairy was started at the mission with Brown Swiss heifers and bulls which
operated until early into the civil war period. The area is ideally suited for cows, having mild
temperatures, land to grow corn for silage and good grazing during the rainy season. Improved Dairy
goat breeds should also flourish if given cover during the rainy season.

Access to markets just an hour’s drive away in the city of Huambo and further access to the coastal
cities of Benguela and Lobito which were relatively unaffected by the civil war and have been more
economically stable. The port at Lobito also provides access to shipping a 4 hour drive away.

There exists in the area a support structure of friends and acquaintances that have indicated support
for such development.