Dear Friends,

 

I will be taking part in Run for Congo Women in aid of the organisation Women for Women International UK.

 

Democratic Republic of Congo presents one of the world's deadliest emergencies to date. More than 5.4 million people have died since 1998. The death toll is the equivalent to an Asian Tsunami every 6.5 months; a September 11th every 2.5 days.

 

This conflict has particularly affected women and girls as they are systematically raped as a combat strategy to terrorise and humiliate. Tens-of-thousands of women and girls have experienced sexual violence - some raped whilst on the way to school, others while fetching water, and many are kept as sex slaves for soldiers. The situation is so extreme that Margot Wallström, the UNs special representative on sexual violence in conflict, has recently called DR Congo the "rape capital of the world."

 

Women for Women International has been working in Congo since 2003 helping women survivors of war by offering them skills training, trauma counselling and microcredit loans.

 

The Women for Women programmes make a huge difference in helping women earn an income, support their families, and help rebuild their societies. Indeed, women who have participated in Women for Women programmes on average earn 50 percent more than women who have not and are three times as likely to vote and participate in community activities.

 

Since July 2010, Run for Congo Women has raised over £75,000 in the UK. £150 is enough to provide skills training for one woman in Congo, enabling her to earn an income and provide for her family, which means that the £75,493 raised so far is enough to train 503 women.

 

Please take a moment to sponsor me. It's really easy – you can donate online by credit or debit card at http://www.justgiving.com/Hannah-Subayi

 

100% of the money you give will go directly to Women for Women’s programmes in Congo – please donate whatever you can, every little helps.

Cheers!
Hannah