Conservation and community development go hand in hand!

• Health Clinic
• Aid for Kokolopori's Schools
• Micro-Enterprise Programs

The sister city partnership was established as a program of the Bonobo Conservation Initiative. U.S. volunteers can contribute to ongoing projects sponsored by BCI and partner Vie Sauvage in the areas of education, health, agriculture and micro-enterprise development, and also have the opportunity to initiate new projects with Kokolopori.

Early accomplishments of the sister city partnership include:

• Creation of a Falls Church-Kokolopori "sister schools" initiative to facilitate cultural exchange, conservation education and curriculum enrichment in both communities
• A month-long cultural program about Kokolopori and the DRC at the Falls Church City public library, featuring music, storytelling and presentations about the DRC and BCI's work in Kokolopori
• Thanks to Spokes for Folks, a Boulder, Colorado bicycle coop, and Bikes for the World of Arlington, VA, we have obtained a large bicycle donation for Kokolopori and other Peace Forest communities.
• Raised $4,455 for Kokolopori's schools from 148 donors in six weeks, securing a $5,000 challenge grant. The funds raised will purchase much-needed textbooks, paper, pens and roofing supplies.

Falls Church citizens are working to publicize the sister city partnership locally and to raise funds for Kokolopori's most urgent community development needs. Fundraising priorities include:

• donations for basic medications and sponsorship of the salary for a doctor so urgently needed by Kokolopori's new health clinic
• school supplies and books for Kokolopori's schools
• establishment of a revolving loan fund for sustainable micro-enterprise development

Get Involved!
Volunteers from all walks of life are encouraged to get involved in these projects and help establish new ones. There are opportunities for everyone, whether you can offer time and energy, or bring special skills in areas like public health, business, education, administration or communications. You can donate online here at bonobo.org and designate your donation for the Kokolopori Partnership or for specific projects such as the clinic, schools or micro-enterprise. Donations are fully tax deductible, and membership in the Kokolopori Partnership is not limited to citizens of Falls Church City.

More information on the Kokolopori - Falls Church Sister City Partnership is available at www.kokolopori-partnership.org. For more information on Sister Cities International, see www.sister-cities.org.