Tumaini – Health and Rights of Women, Adolescents and Children

This project, also known as “TUMAINI” , aims to support the Panzi Foundation and Hospital in South-Kivu to help children, adolescents, and women who are at risk of, or survivors of, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) access sexual and reproductive health care in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Burundi. Project activities include: (1) providing training to communities and raising awareness about sexual and reproductive health and rights topics, particularly sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV); (2) providing training to health care providers and facilities on sexual and reproductive health care, and particularly supporting them with relation to caring for those who are at risk of, or are survivors of, SGBV; and (3) advocating for policy which addresses SGBV, including preventative measures and also improving care and services for survivors, in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The project expects to benefit nearly 3 million people. The University of Montreal’s International Health Unit is implementing this project in partnership with the Hygeia Initiative, the Panzi Foundation and numerous local partners including women’s and youth rights groups.

The project aims to strengthen the four pillars of the holistic “One Stop Center” model created by Dr Denis Mukwege, with surgical-medical and psychosocial and legal and social integration services. This model represents the care for SGBV survivors, who are the direct beneficiaries. At the community level, it will contribute to strengthening advocacy for gender equity, positive masculinities, the reintegration of survivors, etc.. It will also support a scaling up of the holistic model, through the development of activities in three new One Stop Center units in Burundi, support by the Denis Mukwege Foundation.