No day here goes by without some eventful moments. We woke up this morning for an early visit to the Panzi Hospital with Jocelyn. We drove up the bumpy and dusty roads through a residential district until we finally reached the hospital. On the way we saw just how close the Rwandan border is and how people can literally walk across the river. It brought home the complications of this conflict!
Panzi hospital has been made famous by the heroic Dr. Mukwege. However, the women are truly the heroic figures to consider here. The hospital is the only hosital in the region that conducts fistula operations for women who have been sexually violated. At least ten new patients are admittedly daily. We met Osa, the Communications Coordinator who gave us a tour of the hospital and explained the programmes and miracles that happen daily. The hospital also performs other services.
We walked down to the women's section where women are treated psycho-socially. They can stay for up to a month and then are moved on to transition houses before returning to their communities. Their children stay with them and they live communally. Classes on human rights and vocational training to assist with subsistence living. The dance and music therapy is incorporated into their healing and social workers use these opportunities to see which women need more attention.
The highlight of the visit was the stop at the daycare. A young American volunteer works with some Congolese women teaching the children songs, playing games, and making crafts. The smiles and songs of these children were so welcome in a place where women undergo the most horrific violations imagninable.
That afternoon we met with Search for Common Ground. Thanks to Nestor, Leon, Alfred and Thomas for arranging this meeting. Youth from Sisi Watoto, a radio programme run by youth for youth, were also at this meeting. Many of the children who run this programme have been former child soldiers, the youth we met were a mix of both. How encouraging to see such an innovative programme! These youth choose topics to report on that directly affect them such as: child labour and the mining industry, issues related to recruitment of children by armed groups, and the most controversial of all was MONUC's exploitation of children in Bukavu. This report met the highest levels of the UN and forced MONUC and the UN to have to address the problem. How terrible that this programme is now forced to be in hiatus due to a lack of funding.....why is it that the best programmes always struggle to get funding! If you are reading this and feel compelled to assist - here is an opportunity to make a real impact for very little investment. We would be pleased to assist you with contacting Search's office.
We ended our day with a few impromptu visits that have enlightened us and will contribute greatly to our work!
Day 2
Another early meeting that was incredibly informative happened this morning, however due to security reasons we wish to have this remain anonymous at this time. This meeting gave us indepth understanding of the many key issues to the conflict and in particular the children's roles.
We then met with MONUSCO Child Protection officer Lavinia. She was warm and welcoming and we appreciated her candor. Thanks Anna for your assistance. Lavinia has arranged for our discussions with Military Observers tomorrow.
In the afternoon we waited for Search's driver - Christian....hey we are grateful for the assistance! On our way to a meeting with the ICRC we tried the only two bank machines in Bukavu - what an experience! One has not worked for three days now and in large part due to a major robbery that occured a few weeks ago....how comforting! Our last meeting of the day was with the ICRC and Maxime.
Maxime was a lovely young man with a bright smile. This was a great meeting and the neutrality of ICRC is clearly key to their reach. This is the only group we met that engages with the "rebel groups". Their ability to build trust is something we need to learn more about.
At the end of these two days we are encouraged by the fact that our work is important, relevant and will be useful.
Tomorrow is a new day!!!
Shelly and Tanya
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