KCOJ hosts "Puma's Kitchen" for education aid to Africa

The Kiwanis Club of Jackson and Hope Presbyterian Church will host “Puma’s Kitchen” and serve a meal of unique Congo foods 4 p.m. Saturday May 23 to benefit educational efforts in Africa.

The meal will be served at the church, 617 Hope Chapel Road in Lakewood, at 5:30 p.m. Prior to serving the meal Mbyu “Puma” Wa Mbuyu, founder of the Able and Willing International Educational Foundation, will discuss the preparation of food used in the meal. He and volunteers will prepare a selection of dishes at the church.

The dinner will be followed by a discussion of educational initiatives in Africa.
Mbuyu “Puma” Wa Mbuyu is a master electrician in Washington, D.C. Every year since 1995 Puma has organized the AWIEF projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the summer while pursuing his job in the United States during the rest of the year.
The fourfold mission of AWIEF is:
• Build schools in areas where access to basic education is limited
• Establish income-generating projects that teach students life skills and allow the schools to be self-supporting
• Foster regenerative natural resource activities within the communities where the schools are located
• Educate the US public about other countries and culture and raise awareness of the interdependent nature of the world
The suggested donation for the event is $35. Tickets are available from Al Manus (732) 267-7266 or Fran Polito (732) 904-8341.

Able & Willing is a non-profit, IRS 501(c)(3), non-denominational, all volunteer run organization with headquarters in Frederick, Maryland. More information about the group is available from their Web site www.ableandwilling.org .