Sister to Sister Projects
Together we make a difference. Photo courtesy of Doris Krimm.
Empowering women in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Kalash Tribal is a FCBD®Style dance troupe in the UK directed by Kelley Beeston. They started their Sister to Sister projects in early 2014 as a result of Kelley’s visits to the Congo with Luminosity, now called La Difference – a registered UK charity (Reg. No: 1174074).
Every time Kelley visits the Kivu region of Congo, the women turn to her for help and support simply because she, too, is a woman. There are many taboos and superstitions which cannot be talked about in front of men, so the women tell her of their heart wrenching experiences and their need for help.
Many of the women are the victims of gender-based violence, including torture, sexual violence, and rape, both in the home and during conflict.
Our First Successful Project
Kalash’s first project was providing a fishing net for some of the hundreds of widows on Idjwi (a large island in Lake Kivu) whose husbands drowned while trying to transport their coffee beans to Rwanda.
After the success of this project, fellow dancers from all over the world started asking Kelley how they could become involved. As a result, Kalash Tribal, together with their master teacher and mentor Carolena Nericcio of FatChanceBellyDance®, offer a collaboration where our whole FCBD®Style community can become involved in raising funds to finance two further initiatives.
Whether as individuals or as a group, you can make a one-off donation, monthly donations, or specific fundraisers for one or both projects.
Contraceptive Implant Project
This project initially set out to provide 1,000 women on the island of Idjwi with their first contraceptive implant. With the majority of Congolese living on less than a dollar a day, they cannot possibly afford the $7 it takes to buy an implant—that’s the price of just two cups of coffee.
Imagine having eight children by the age of 30.
On the island of Idjwi in the Democratic Republic of Congo, this is a common reality. Most families rely on traditional methods like the rhythm method, breastfeeding, or even the myth that jumping after sex can prevent pregnancy. Modern contraception is out of reach for most—especially when a single contraceptive implant costs $7 and over 80% of the population survives on less than $1 a day.
In 2015, with the support of our dance community and FCBD® founder Carolena Nericcio, Kelley launched a campaign to help women on Idjwi access contraceptive implants—giving them the ability to space or stop pregnancies and provide better care, nutrition, and education for their families.
Thanks to your donations, over 2,000 women have now received an implant—directly improving the lives of more than 16,000 people across the island. Entire families are thriving because mothers are given the opportunity to choose when and if to grow their families.
Our goal is to help 1,000 more women gain access to this life-changing support. Just $7—the price of two cups of coffee—can give a woman the power to plan her future.
Local leaders and the island’s queen, Madame Esperance, have rallied behind this effort. Women who received the implant now speak up in markets, schools, and on the radio, empowering others with their stories and helping to dispel stigma and misinformation.
Your support—whether a donation or a fundraiser—goes directly to the women of Idjwi. The project is managed on the ground by a trusted local team and supported by the UK-based charity La Différence (Charity No: 1174074).
We believe in women supporting women—on the dance floor and across the globe. Help us reach our next milestone. Donate today and give a woman the freedom to choose her path.
Sanitary Pads Sewing Project
Imagine missing a week of school or work every month—simply because you don’t have access to sanitary products.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, this is a reality for countless women and girls. Many are forced to use rags, grass, leaves or even dried dung during their menstrual cycle—or stay home entirely, unable to go to school, work, or market.
To meet this urgent need, our team in Bukavu has launched a new initiative: a small, woman-led sewing workshop creating washable, reusable sanitary pads—a sustainable, life-changing solution. With support from our dance community and UK-based charity La Différence, the workshop is now producing and selling pads at an affordable rate. But for most, even $3 for a set of three is still out of reach.
The key component—waterproof lining—is nearly impossible to find in the DRC. We currently rely on donated offcuts from a sportswear company and volunteers willing to carry materials across borders. To grow the project and reach more women, we need funding to purchase bolts of waterproof fabric and ship them to nearby Rwanda for safe handoff.
How You Can Help
This project has the potential to transform lives. Girls can stay in school. Women can continue working and providing for their families. With your help, we can scale production, lower costs, and give more women the comfort, dignity, and freedom they deserve.
Every donation goes directly toward materials, production, and safe delivery. Whether it’s $10, $50, or more—your contribution makes a tangible difference.
Let’s create change—one stitch at a time. Donate today and support menstrual dignity for women in the DRC.
