Since 2012, we have been working with a nurses’ and social workers’ grassroots NGO, AFIA-FEV in the city of Bukavu in the Sud Kivu where as in the rest of the eastern province of the RDC, sexual violence especially rape have been endemic for at least two decades, perpetrated by at least 100 various militias, the regular army and armed groups, largely because of the presence of “conflict minerals“ which various groups and bordering countries are trying to appropriate.
As UN reports show, this has continued throughout 2020. Because of the non-stop war, it in Bukavu that Dr. Denis Mukwege’s famous hospital,l’Hôpital Panzi is situated. Over 40 000 women and children, victims of sexual violence have been operated there.
We have found that self-defense courses for girls aged from 6 to 18 are amazingly effective in boosting their self-confidence, defense skills and respect they receive from their male peers. We have a hundred eager students and many more who want to join these classes.
In order to continue to help these girls, we desperately need your help, however modest. Click here to get to our donations (via Paypal) page. Thank-you so much in advance!
.