On November 28th, Kim, Rhonda and myself went to Toronto to attend a symposium that was presented by SAFER and the Stephen Lewis Foundation. The symposium, Ending Sexual Violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was an evening spent with Stephen Lewis, Eve Ensler (The Vagina Monologues) and a true hero in every sense of the word, Dr. Denis Mukwege, founder and Director of the Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, DRC. It was a sold out evening and without a real sponsor, the ticket sales paid for us to have the privilege to hear from these distinguished speakers. Dr. Mukwege was interviewed on the 60 Minutes segment that brought the plight of the women in the Congo to our attention hence the rug.
Dr. Mukwege specializes in obstetric and gynecological consequences of sexual violence. You could have heard a pin drop when Dr. Mukwege was speaking albeit through the aid of an interpreter. He is a strong presence with a soft, gentle, reassuring voice that has tried to help some 15,000 women and girls since 1999. He said the youngest was three and the oldest 82.....how does he do it day after day after day!!!!??? Dr Mukwege has a team helping him screen all the victims that come to him for help since as he said, "if I heard all the stories I would not be able to do my job as a surgeon". They have one psychologist on staff and there is a definite need for more. Dr. Mukwege does this even though his life, along with his family, has been threatened - now this is what true heros are made of.
The Panzi Hospital is always looking for funds. SAFER (Social Aid for the Elimination of Rape), a Canadian Organization, has been instrumental in sending some $40,000 worth of crucial medical supplies to the Panzi Hospital.
Eve Ensler spoke very eloquently about her involvement with the Panzi Hospital and her time spent at the Panzi Hospital. In affiliation with the Stephen Lewis Foundation, her organization V-Day is in the process of adding a facility that will house women for a period of approximately six months so that they can be rehabilitated, educated and comforted so that they can become self sufficient members of their communities. All very impressive involvement. We did manage to speak to Eve Ensler to pitch our idea about the rug and she was very encouraged by what we were doing!!!
Eleanor Buttrey was kind enough to buy our tickets for the function and some unsuspecting couple gave us a free parking ticket, divine intervention. Thanks to Eleanor, to those good samaritans in the parking lot and also to the gentlemen who gave up his table at Second Cup so that we could have a table for three of us and the rug!!
It was a quiet 3-1/2 hour ride home after hearing all that we did, but more adamant about what has to be done to help these victims of such atrocities. They need our help.
Creativity, Empowerment, Support And Laughter Through Rug Hooking.
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