Our Projects

Buy your ticket , support the gift of hope campaign  for children and women in Congo victims of the war.

Women and girls of the World is launching a project called the Gift of Hope, to come to the aid of girls living in the streets of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Democratic Republic of Congo

In spite of multiple riches found in the Congo, the economic, social, and sanitary systems are practically nonexistent. The country has known a chronic crisis for several years, elevated by an extended war soon to span a decade. With approximately 5 million dead, the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the deadliest conflict since World War II. Today Kinshasa has 8 million inhabitants, the third most populated city in Africa, with a growth rate of 6% annually. The masses are in poverty (80% of the population are unemployed, and more than half of the population is at the brink of poverty). Poverty is aggravated by the world food crisis and the increase of world population, which has ruptured community solidarity and lead to the destruction of the family nucleus.

The Phenomenon of children in the streets of Kinshasa: a social time bomb.

They are called street kids, as they do not have any parents. Or, in cases where they do have parents, for whatever reasons, they have been chased from their homes. A survey done in 2006 demonstrated that there are more than 14,000 children in the streets of Kinshasa, of which 48% are female. More than 70% are between 12 and 18 years old.

Alone, rejected, and abandoned by the Congolese Society, these girls are delivered into sexual exploitation and sex slavery in the streets of Kinshasa. In the majority of cases, these exploitations include rape as well as sexual enslavement. In a city where child prostitution is more or less institutionalized, the situation of the street children leaves Congolese authorities indifferent, and crimes such as rape remain, unpunished. The girls begin to prostitute themselves around age 12, with the purpose of being able to cover the basic expense of food; the money gained being insufficient to afford even a roof over their heads. Life in the streets renders them vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases as well as unwanted pregnancies. The situation is particularly alarming for child mothers' (1/3 of the girls are already mothers), who continue to resort to prostitution, while living in the streets with their own newborn children, in the most desperate of conditions. The case is similar for pregnant women, who, in spite of their condition, still find themselves in the streets, have no access to health services of any kind, and continue to prostitute themselves.

Key Numbers (provided by Doctors of the World)

• 9 out of 10 girls survive via prostitution.
• The age of 12 yrs is the average age for girls entering prostitution.
• 70% have suffered an initiation of violent rape when entering the streets.
• 74% of children experienced their first sexual encounter before living on the streets, and for 4 out of 10 girls, their first    sexual encounter was a rape.
• 7 out of 10 girls have declared that they have been victims of rape.
• 76% of these rapes were gang rapes.
• Slightly less than 1 girl out of 2 has declared that she is the victim of sexual slavery/forced prostitution.

The Gift of Hope: Together, we can give them a second chance!

In a city where child prostitution is almost institutionalized, the situation for street kids leaves the Congolese Authorities indifferent as they have become part of the décor of the city. Crimes such as rape remain unpunished, law enforcement is nonexistent, and going to a police station with a complaint is unthinkable for a Congolese girl or women.

WHY WE NEED YOU:

Urgent actions required for Young Mothers and Pregnant Girls:

We believe that there is urgency for pregnant girls and young mothers living on the street with their children. For this reason, our top priority will be to provide a permanent shelter where the girls will be able to live safely with their children.It will be the first community-based center for young mothers and children in Kinshasa. A focus will be on empowering girls to pursue their education and economic goals, so that they don't become dependent on international aid. In collaboration with a local non profit organization, psychological assistance will also be offered to the girls, since most of them have been victims of severe trauma, such as rape.

Education and Social Reinsertion .

We believe that there cannot be social reinsertion without financial autonomy. Thus, one main focus will be to provide an ongoing educational program, in order to boost entrepreneurial skills and job readiness. In a country where the unemployment rate is almost at 80%, entrepreneurial skills could be a key factor in putting these girls on a path to financial autonomy.

Assistance for the Children Born on the Street:

Most street children only have their mother for support, who is in many cases a juvenile herself. Children who build a solid and educational foundation early in life, are more likely to succeed in subsequent years of school. A free community preschool will be established, where children may gather daily to learn basic reading, math skills, and practice critical life skills (such as personal responsibility, and working collaboratively in a group)..

Support UNICEF  in the Eastern Congo DRC

Since the conflict began in the DRC in 1998, nearly 5 millions people have been killed, making this war the deadliest conflict since World War 2. An entire generation of children in the DRC have only known violence and insecurity; Furthermore, the Eastern Congo has recently been declared the world's most dangerous place in the World for Women and Girls. Women, girls and recently even boys, have been victims of extensive, extreme sexual violence. It is estimated that approximately 1,100 women and girls are raped every month in the Eastern Congo alone. Extreme sexual violence, including rape, mutilation, and sexual slavery, leave the girls with permanent physical and emotional disabilities.

We are very proud to support the STOP RAPE CAMPAIGN, a program by UNICEF active in the Eastern Congo. UNICEF is actively working on supporting the recovery of traumatized child victims of sexual violence.

Resources to learn more about the crisis in the DRC:

www.stoprapreinthedrc.org

  http://www.democracynow.org/2009/2/9/playwright_v_day_founder_eve_ensler

Eve Ensler is an American playwright, performer, feminist and activist, best known for her play: The Vagina Monologues. She has played an important role in raising the voice of the silenced women of Congo survivors of rape.

Dear Eve,

On Behalf of all of us standing with the women of Congo, we want to thank you and support your actions. You have been one of the first to alert the world of the critical situation in the eastern Congo, Please do not stop, through your actions you are making the world a better and safer place for women, girls and children. Thank You!

Love

Women and Girls of the World.

- To learn Why the Eastern Congo is the Most dangerous place on earth for Women and Girls:

http://www.raisehopeforcongo.org/tenreasons

- The Only medical center in the eastern Congo treating female victims of sexual violence and genital mutilation :

http://www.panzihospitalbukavu.org/

Dear Dr Mukwege,

You are a HERO, in the darkness and the unthinkable things happening in the Eastern Congo, you are the light in the lives of thousands of women and girls recovering from sexual violence. Please don't stop, you make us believe that human beings are capable of great things when they put their mind and spirit into something. Thank you for playing such an important role in the recovery and lives of Women and Girls’ survivors of rape.

Love

Women and Girls of the World

- The last visit of the US secretary Hillary Clinton in the Eastern Congo:

http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=4115