Empowering Women Becomes US Priority

Fund Raiser for Empower Congo Women - February 9th

 Sewing classes at Ushindi Center

Rotary sponsored Event
Rotaract of Ventura is sponsoring a very special event for Empower Congo Women this Wednesday, February 9th at the Wedgewood Banquet Center in Ventura, CA from 6-9pm. 

Rotaractors are Rotary members from 18-30 years old. The Ventura Rotaract Club is fairly new, formed less than a year ago, but it boasts 24 young men and women members who have sponsored three successful fund raising events in the last 6 months! These Rotaractors are on fire!

Proceeds to buy Sewing Machines for Congolese Women
Proceeds from "CELEBRATING AND EMPOWERING CONGO WOMEN" will benefit women and girl graduates of Ushindi Center in Bukavu, DRC.  Forty graduates who have completed a year long vocational training program will each receive a "Business Kit"  consisting of a treadle sewing machine, stand, thread, oil for the machine, and enough fabric to get the graduate off to a good start. Each kit costs $150 and allows a family of 5 to become self-reliant.

Join Us!

This is a FREE event celebrating Women. There will be a delicious buffet dinner, donated by the Wedgewood Banquet Center, and let me tell you, their food is delicious! 


Rotaract Ventura President Cheney Caldwell has been busy choreographing a Talent Show that you won't want to miss! There will also be a Silent Auction and Raffle, and a special presentation by Victoria Bentley who will tell the stories  of courageous  Congolese women.

Where and When
The event is being held from 6-9pm at the Wedgewood Banquet Center, 5880 Olivas Park Drive, Ventura.

Hope to see you there!

With love and gratitude, Victoria

                                           Angeline

2010 - A Year of Focus and Continuing Growth

This truly has been a wonderful year for Empower Congo Women! During 2010, we continued to provide long-term, sustainable solutions that empower Congolese women to rebuild their lives through training, health care, education and economic opportunities.

Ushindi women become Certified Trauma Healers

We began 2010 by expanding Ushindi Center, so we now have several rooms devoted to vocational training as well as an office and storage room.  Doing this enabled us to enroll 28 more women into our program, giving them hope for the future. Ranging from 15-21 years, the young women are all war survivors-- some have babies, others attend school, few have parents—yet their enthusiasm for learning is palpable-- my heart 

 

On March 18^th, I joined the Ushindi women to march in solidarity with women all over the world for the International Women’s Day March. It poured that day, but we continued to march in the rain along with  2000 other soaked women from eastern Congo.

In April, my wonderful friends Margaret Johnson and Betty Merner arrived in Bukavu from Rhode Island with suitcases bursting with fabric, stuffing and sewing notions, ready to make dolls for sale at Waldorf Schools. Both school teachers, they organized  the women who learned to cut, sew, stuff, and hand stitch doll parts, after two weeks completing 100 beautiful dolls! Latest word from Betty is that all the dolls are sold and Waldorf parents are asking for more . . . now to get them from Bukavu to the US!

While Margaret and Betty were there, we trekked to see the Lowland Gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park, an amazing experience.  Impressed by the poverty of a pygmy village nearby, they took action to help the tribe buy its own land by creating the Pygmy Land Project.  Working under the auspices of Empower Congo Women, they plan to raise $50,000, so the pygmies will have a place to call home.

 The pygmies of Kahuzi Biega need a place to call home.

Rotary International played a big role in our lives this year.  As a member of the International Service Committee of Rotary Club of Montecito, I was able to speak to 30 other clubs about the dire situation of women and children in eastern Congo. 

The clubs’ generous support provided vocational training and equipment for women and girls survivors of sexual violence at Ushindi Center in Bukavu and the Kivu Sewing Workshop in Mumosho, a groupment of villages south of Bukavu. Mumosho was also recipient of Rotary funding that improved a primary school, bought goats for 25 families, and outfitted a demonstration farm that teaches environmentally sound farming methods.

I was honored to receive the District 5240 Direct Service Award from Rotary International this year, as well as to be named a Paul Harris Fellow for my international service work. Ushindi Center was also honored by the visit of District 5190 Governor, Maria Marceline, who although District Governor of 10 countries made a special visit to our Center in support of women’s projects worldwide. 

I am proud to say that we sponsored 126 children in school this year, which means we saved 126 children from becoming rebels, bandits and prostitutes—at least for one year! Your continued support of Empower Congo Women’s Educational Fund guarantees these children the hope of a better future! DONATE NOW!

2010 - A Year of Focus and Continuing Growth

 

Young women learn to sew at Ushindi Center.

This truly has been a wonderful year for Empower Congo Women! During 2010, we continued to provide long-term, sustainable solutions--such as vocational training, education and trauma healing--which enable Congolese women to rebuild their lives and prosper.

We began 2010 by expanding Ushindi Center, so there are now several rooms devoted to  training as well as an office and storage.  Doing this allowed us space to enroll more women in the program, giving 28 more families the opportunity for a better life. Ranging in age from 15-19 years, these young women are all war survivors-- some have babies, others attend school, few have parents, yet their enthusiasm for learning is heart warming. These girls are the future of Congo. To support their growth, DONATE NOW:

http://empowercongowomen.org/donate.php  

On March 18^th, I joined the Ushindi women to march in solidarity with women  worldwide for the International Women’s Day March. It poured that day, but we  marched on in the rain with  2000 other soaked women from eastern Congo. What a trip!

 Check out the gathering clouds in background.

In April, my wonderful friends Margaret Johnson and Betty Merner arrived in Bukavu from Rhode Island with suitcases bursting with fabric, stuffing and sewing notions, ready to make dolls to sell at Waldorf Schools. Both school teachers, they quickly organized  the women who learned to cut, sew, stuff, and hand stitch doll parts-- in only two weeks  they completed 100 perfect Waldorf dolls! Latest word from Betty is that all the dolls are sold and Waldorf parents are asking for more . . . now to get them from Bukavu to the US!

 The doll-making assembly line

While Margaret and Betty were there, we trekked the Kahuzi Biega National Park to see the Lowland Gorillas. It was an amazing experience!  Impressed by the poverty of a pygmy village nearby, my friends took action to help the tribe buy its own land by creating the Pygmy Land Project.  Working under the auspices of Empower Congo Women, they plan to raise $50,000, so the pygmies will have a place to call home.

 

 The pygmies of Kahuzi Biega need a place to call home.

Rotary International played a big role in our lives this year.  As member of the International Service Committee of Rotary Club of Montecito, I was able to speak to 30 other clubs about the urgent need to address the dire situation in eastern Congo. 

Rotary Club of Montecito International Service Committee, 2010

Rotary member's generous support provided vocational training and equipment for women and girls survivors of sexual violence at Ushindi Center in Bukavu and the Kivu Sewing Workshop in Mumosho, a groupment of villages south of Bukavu. Mumosho was also recipient of Rotary funding that improved Burhembo Primary School, bought goats for 30 families, and outfitted a demonstration farm that teaches environmentally sound farming methods.

 

 Burhembo Primary School, Mumosho

I was honored to receive the District 5240 Direct Service Award from Rotary International this year, as well as to be named a Paul Harris Fellow for my international service. Ushindi Center was honored by the visit of District 5190 Governor, Maria Marceline, who although District Governor of 10 countries made a special trip to Ushindi Center in support of women worldwide. 

Exciting news is that Empower Congo Women now has a formal Board of Directors at the helm. Named in November, the BOD is comprised of myself, Lisa Harrington, Charlie Dawson, Vera Dudley, and Seira Salemon. Learn more about this remarkably talented team  at       http://empowercongowomen.org/about.php

 

I am very happy that we were able to sponsor 126 children in school this year, which means we saved 126 children from becoming rebels, bandits and prostitutes—at least for one year! Your continuing support of Empower Congo Women's Educational Fund holds the promise of a better future for these children for years to come. Please DONATE NOW!  

http://empowercongowomen.org/donate.php  

The women and girl participants at Ushindi Center will be graduating this spring, so that  other women survivors can have the opportunity to  rebuild their lives.  All graduates are being prepared and tested by a master tailor to ensure that their dressmaking skills can support them. Upon graduation each woman will be given a gift "kit" to make a living.  Each "kit" costs $150 and consists of a treadle sewing machine with stand, fabric, notions, and oil to keep the machine running well. We have 2 kits donated now and need 43 more! Won't you please help these women get off to a good start by donating a Graduation Kit. 

http://empowercongowomen.org/donate.php  

Angeline is the single mother of 6 children. Her husband was killed several years ago.

As the year draws to an end, I want to thank you all for your continuing support of Empower Congo Women. We are a grassroots organization working to rebuild the fabric of society in eastern Congo. I believe more than ever that many people giving a bit of what they have, no matter how small the contribution, can move mountains! So this is your chance to make the world a better place-- one woman, one family at a time. Be part of our grassroots movement where every dollar counts, and every dollar is accounted for! To quote Mahatma Gandhi, Be the change you want to see in the world.


With Love and Gratitude and Best Wishes for a Prosperous and very happy New Year,


Victoria Bentley

Ushindi women march against violence

Ushindi Center girls carry the banner during the Women' March against Violence

On Sunday, October 17^th, the women of Ushindi Center marched through the streets of Bukavu with thousands of other women from all over the world. They marched to protest the sexual violence against women that still continues unabated in eastern Congo today.

Forty-five Ushindi women marched together in solidarity carrying a banner that said,

“Denounce us and we speak up.
No to violence against women.
Until women are free, we will mach.”

First Lady Olive Lembe Kabila,  the Minister of Gender, Marie-Ange Lukiana, and others, planted trees at the Triangle de Nguba as symbols of the women who have died, been raped, or otherwise victimized during the 14 years of violence against women in Congo.

The marchers walked through the streets of Bukavu to Independence Square, where speeches and a manifest were read.

The march was organized by the World Women March movement. Women came from countries from all over the world to participate in the march.

With love and gratitude,

Victoria