For many years war has been a normal part of African life. In 2000, Madeleine Albright (former United States Secretary of State) suggested the war in Central Africa was of such great magnitude and regional impact that "it could be described as Africa's first world war".

Since that time conditions in central African nations have begun to stabilise, however the atrocities and injustice towards women are only just being realised. Women whose villages have been destroyed, husbands have been killed, children have grown up without an education, and who have been raped, tortured and enslaved by militia.

Such great need birthed HEAL Africa (Health, Education, Community Action and Leadership), an organisation that trains medical professionals and promotes healing in DR Congo. Based in Goma, HEAL Africa was stared by Dr Jo Lusi with his wife Lyn.

Heal My People

Heal My People ("Guéris Mon Peuple") is a project instigated and overseen by Lyn. It began in 2003 in response to the high rate of sexual violence being committed against girls and women. The program identifies women and girls who have been raped or who have fistulae from difficult childbirth, and offers treatment.

HEAL Africa works with a network of trained counsellors in areas outside of Goma to identify and assist women who have been raped and tortured by rogue militias. Local counsellors do initial counselling, refer patients to local hospitals or to HEAL Africa when care is needed, and continue to monitor the women following their medical care.

Over 11,717 women throughout North Kivu and Maniema Provinces (in DR Congo) have been identified and helped since 2003. Over 1,315 fistula reparative surgeries have been done. The goal of the program is to enable the women and girls to enter into a healing process so that ultimately they can enter society as productive and healed people.

Change is taking place…

HEAL Africa's partnership with the Protestant Women's Federation has provided post-rape counselling and medical treatment to over 6,520 women throughout Masisi territory and Goma and an additional 5,100 in Maniema Province.

UNICEF, HEAL Africa and Children's Voice conducted a two week awareness campaign for school age girls throughout Goma in January 2005, for self-protection against rape; the message reached 36,000 school girls and their parents.

Once treated and cured by HEAL Africa, women are enabled to return to their communities. They receive a breeding goat, a hoe and 10kgs of seeds to help them re-establish their livelihoods. These women return the proceeds of investment to the committee after the first harvest so more vulnerable people can be assisted.

Safe Houses funded by Be Gorgeous!

In 2009 Be Gorgeous funded its first half way house for women who are unable to return to their homes because of fistula.


In the local region of Rutshuru, HEAL Africa works in the village of Kibumba where women used to
work in displaced peoples’ camps under the supervision of counsellors. Following the recent conflict
between government troops and CNDP rebels, the camps were broken up and up until now, the
women have no longer had an appropriate space to meet together and for trauma counselling.

Using money sent by Be Gorgeous a lot of 60 x 30 with a house 12x13, requiring renovation was purchased with the intention to establish a safe hourse and Wamama Simameni Centre at Kibumba, DR Congo. The local authories are fully aware of HEAL Africa’s vision and future plans to support women’s centres through Nehemiah Committees, Women Stand Up Together groups and the HEAL My People project.

For more information visit www.healafrica.org or www.cnecpi.com.au/HEAL_Africa