FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
About "Courage with DR Congo" Online Store
Q: What is the purpose of this site?
A: This is an online store that sells products made by women at the Tchukudu Women's Training Centre (TWTC) in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as products generously donated by others in support of TWTC (see Acknowledgements).
Q: Where do the products on this site come from?
A: The Shopping Totes and Wrap Around Skirts were made by the women at the Tchukudu Women's Training Centre, as part of their education in sewing skills. Artwork on the cover of Journal Notebooks was donated by artist Heather Haynes. Lava Bead Bracelets were assembled by friends of Tchukudu women. Greeting Cards were created and donated by artist Richard E. Armstrong. See the Acknowledgement page for more details about these contributors.
Q: Who receives the proceeds of selling these products?
A: All of the proceeds from the products sold on this online store will go directly to support women and children connected to the Tchukudu Women's Training Centre in DR Congo.
Q: How are you ensuring that the money, in fact, goes to TWTC?
A: This site is managed by co-founder of the Tchukudu Women’s Training Centre (TWTC), Cathy Cleary, based in Kingston, Ontario. The billing for this site is linked directly to a bank account for the Tchukudu Project. Cathy is then able to make international transfers to the TWTC in DRCongo.
Q: Can I get a donation tax receipt for buying products on this site?
A: Unfortunately, no. Canada Revenue Agency doesn't allow the issuing of donation receipts for transactions in which a person receives an "advantage" during the transaction. In this case, you are receiving products from the store in exchange for your payment, so your payment cannot be considered a donation for tax purposes, and we can't provide you with a donation receipt.
Q: Is there another way I can support the Tchukudu Women's Training Centre, other than purchasing items from this store?
A: Yes! Contact Cathy Cleary at cathy@bridgingpost.com or 1-613-876-0330 to find out how you can help. Some opportunities include sponsoring a woman through her training program at TWTC. See also the "Get Involved" page for more information.
Q: Who created this site?
A: This site is the result of an experiential learning project by St. Lawrence College marketing students, as part of their course work. Teams of second-year diploma students competed by submitting various versions of site designs and layouts. The design and layout of the site you are seeing now, is based on the work of Sarah Lanteigne, with contributions from Nathan Wilkinson and Nicholas Belmont, all of whom were St. Lawrence College Marketing students. The logo for the store was developed by Spark, an in-house creative agency at St. Lawrence College. Product photography is by Colton Leonard, a St. Lawrence College Advertising & Marketing Communications student.
Q: What does your logo mean?
A: The store's logo was created by Spark, an in-house creative agency at St. Lawrence College. It features the name of our store, "Courage with Democratic Republic of Congo", and a thumbprint with a heart inside. The idea for the thumbprint came from the small gift bags that were sold in our store. Each one included a label with the thumbprint and name of the woman who created that bag. In a broader sense, the thumbprint also symbolizes connection and warmth, and making a tangible impact. Our brand colours are Opportunity Yellow and Trustworthy Deep Blue.
Q: Where do you ship? What is the shipping cost?
A: We will ship anywhere in Canada (sorry, we don't ship to the US or internationally). Shipping is charged depending on where in Canada you live. When orderings from this site the shipping will be calculated before you finalize your order.
Q: How long does shipping take?
A: We strive to fulfill each order as quickly as possible, but we kindly ask for your understanding and patience. Online orders are manually processed by Cathy Cleary in Kingston, Ontario. We use Canada Post.
Q: Will these products be available for sale anywhere else?
A: In addition to this online store, we occasionally participate in physical pop-up stores in the Kingston community. The shopping totes are also available for sale at Kingston Coffee House, 1046 Princess St., Kingston ON (at the Kingston Centre)
Q: What is your return/refund policy?
A: We do not accept returns or issue refunds. We are very sorry if you are dissatisfied with your product. We kindly ask for your understanding and forgiveness. This is a volunteer project aimed at benefiting a charitable organization.
Q: I have a further concern/question about shopping on your site, how this site works, your products, shipping, etc. Who do I contact?
A: Please email Cathy Cleary at cathy@bridgingpost.com
About the Tchukudu Women's Training Centre
Q: Is the Tchukudu Women’s Training Centre a charity organization?
A: The Tchukudu Women’s Training Centre is a project that is under the umbrella of the Canada Africa Community Health Alliance (CACHA). CACHA is a registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency.
Q: What do you mean when you talk about Tchukudu projects?
A: The Tchukudu Projects include the Tchukudu Women's Training Centre, the Tchukudu Kids Home, and Jonathan Holiday School, in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Q: Who does TWTC help?
A: The Tchukudu Women's Training Centre helps vulnerable women and families in the DR Congo with the training and skills needed to start a sewing/tailoring business. This allows women to create financial independence, feed their families, and reignite hope.
Q: How old are the women who get trained at the Tchukudu Women's Training Centre?
A: The women range from 20 to 60 years old. The Centre also supports two grandmothers with a small stipend to support their retirement.
Q: Where is the Tchukudu Women's Training Centre?
A: The training centre is located in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo.