This week, the DRC spotlight is on one of our Brick Making employees and the youngest employee of Tifie DRC. Crispin and his story are a good reminder of the impact that Tifie has on individuals and families. Truly, TIFIE is Teaching Individuals and Families Independence through Enterprise. 

Crispin Itambo was born in the village of Boende, in the Equator Province of the DRC. Born into a family of 5 children, Crispin has experienced very difficult conditions as a young child and lost his mother in 2003. In 2005, his father decided to move to Kinshasa with all of his children but Crispin decided to try to make it on his own in their home village. Things didn’t work out for him so he joined his father and siblings in Kinshasa a year later. 

One of Crispin’s dreams was to go college and get an education so he could make a larger income. Crispin started a technical training course but unfortunately was forced to stop his studies to find a job so he could provide for siblings. He first worked as day laborer in a plastic fabrication company in Kingabwa but like many companies in Kinshasa they didn’t pay their employees. Towards the end of 2007, Crispin began seeking better employment and received a job as a laborer for Tifie Bricks. 

With his wages from Tifie Bricks, Crispin and his girlfriend, Philo Bekila, opened a kiosk where they manage and sell small items such as cookies, candies, cigarettes, to make additional money to provide for the daily needs of their son. Crispin also supports the studies of his younger siblings who live with him, and also helps his father from time to time too. He’s happy for his job and since his arrival to Kinshasa he considers his job at Tifie a blessing to him and his family; it enables him to help his family and he feels like his time is productive and meaningful. He is looking forward to being a long term employee and an asset to Tifie. He wants to give credit to Tifie and the people who have provided the resources and money to start businesses like the bricks enterprise. 

Although younger than many of our employees, we appreciate Crispin’s hard work with Tifie and are thankful that he is able to provide not only for himself, but for his siblings, father and family, and that they have a better life because of his steady income. 

Crispin’s Proposal to Tifie: that Tifie had more brick making machines so that production would increase and more jobs could be provided. We’re working on it Crispin! 

(Thanks to Karine for collecting and writing our stories!)