We are particularly focused on women victims of rape and sexual violence who live in small groups of 5 to 10 people in the town of Bukavu. We teach those women how to make small crafts, handbags, plastic baskets, local drinks, juices and homemade soap, etc. We are providing small loans to each group. We are educating these women to live in solidarity among themselves and we are teaching them trades (soap, dressmaking, etc.) so that they can be useful in the society and for their socioeconomic reintegration. We have in place agricultural land, seeds and tools to help these women practice agriculture and to be self sufficient. Many of these women ran away from their home communities because of the shame of rape, or they were cast out by the society because they were abused and raped by armed gangs.

In rural areas, we are making it easier for women victims of rape and sexual violence to access care by a protocol that binds our organization to Panzi hospital.

These raped women were ashamed of being known as raped women in the society. But thanks to our approach and the care they receive from us, they have hope and now they can share their history with other women to encourage them to be open to receiving appropriate care.

The majority of these women have children who are suffering from malnutrition, don't have adequate places to sleep and do not go to school. We are also focusing on educating those children.

DESCRIPTION

Bukavu is a city in eastern Congo on Lake Kivu, separated from Rwanda by the Ruzizi River. Centre Kitumaini works with the population there and the surrounding Sud-Kivu (South Kivu) Province to improve lives in many ways.

Currently, the population of Bukavu and its surrounding areas is estimated at more than 1,000,000 inhabitants. An estimated 60% of the people have fled to rural areas due to war and violence, which has caused a permanent cycle of poverty and an upheaval of the nation. Many have fled to the rural town of Bukavu and are migrating to the outskirts without jobs or income. Composed of mostly women and children, the displaced populace is deprived of certain human rights such as access to health care, schooling, etc. Many of these children are orphans or were separated from their parents during attacks, taking different directions while fleeing the atrocities of murder, rape, and rampage. Reconnection with families is sometimes never attained. The Adoptive Parents Project is part of the framework for orphans and children identified as vulnerable due to other circumstances who possess the ability and desire to pursue basic school education. As part of the social services provided by the association Kitumaini Centre, the project goal is to provide school fees and school kits for children who lack fiscal support. At this time we have a count of 107 orphans and vulnerable children left in the six schools in three districts of the city of Bukavu. Given the influx of war refugees and orphans migrating to the city without support, we also face the problem of homeless street children and use of children by armed groups for warlike ambitions. Given the numbers and names of children on the waiting list, it becomes imperative to help these children in order to create a stable future. To help stabilize the DRC, we must invest in its children.

This project is managed by OkoNGO from the United States of America and the Centre Kitumaini's executive team in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). If you have any questions about the project, you may write info@okongo.org .