Jolly Kamuntu was re-elected as President of the Board of Directors of the Association of Media Women in South Kivu for a term of 3 years.

Jolly Kamuntu was re-elected as President of the Board of Directors of the Association of Media Women in South Kivu for a term of 3 years.

Jolly Kamuntu will make a new private team of all former collaborators. Of the 8 positions were filled, only the President of the Board was reappointed.

The other 7 members who have joined the team are new.

The Vice President is for once in the history of the AFEM occupied by a young journalist Sourire TUMSIFU rural radio Obuguma of Idjwi North. This young journalist grew up in the hands of the AFEM SK. To this day, the Vice Presidency was never occupied by a rural woman journalist.

After reading the Minutes of the General Assembly of 2010, it was passed with amendments. The financial and narrative reports for the year 2011 were well presented, discussed and approved by the Assembly.

Caddy Adzuba was awarded "Women of the year"

At the fifteenth edition of the International "Woman of the Year" prize was awarded to the Congolese Furaha Adzuba Caddy. It is through his work to denounce human rights violations of women and children, to inform and educate women about their rights.

The award was presented on Friday, November 30, 2012 by the President of the Council of the valley, Emily Rini, and President of the Jury Prize, Luigino Vallet. It was in the presence of the jury, the President of the Legislative Assembly of Molise, Mario Pietracupa, and the Rector of the University of Valle d'Aosta, Fabrizio Cassella, and the regional director Carmela Fontana and Patricia Morelli.

The jury said he was motivated by "His day job as a journalist to denounce violence against women and children and to give a voice to the voiceless, because it is a young woman who fights for peace in a country ravaged by civil war and it is important to give confidence and hope to the younger generation.

Minova: Many raped women including a 80-year-old woman

46 cases of rape of women are reported  to Minova and are attributed to the FARDC soldiers known as "commandos". These rapes were perpetrated in 9 villages and streets of this city. These include Minova Centre Avenue Bondeko, sous marin, Maendeleo Rutchunda, Muganga, Mubimbi, but also in the villages of Kinshinji, and Bwisha Kalungu.

Only 7 victims have been followed in the general hospital. The remaining 39 cases were referred in houses instead of listening to and benefit from a psycho-social support. Of these victims, 80-year old woman has been identified. Our gathering corroborating sources inform that the anonymity FARDC soldiers are known as "commandos" who are perpetrators of these crimes.

Note that this situation is due to other acts of vandalism such looting caused by conflict and population displacement caused by clashes between the FARDC and rebel M23.

Chouchou Namegabe lead the Press House for a term of 2 years

The Association of Media Women in South Kivu AFEM SK will lead the Press House for a term of 2 years. Coordinator of AFEM SK Chouchou Namegabe was elected as Chair of the Board of Directors. It was at the end of the general meeting of rebuilding the structure of the press in South Kivu.

At the end of this general assembly, free and democratic elections were held and this for a period of two years to replace those temporarily managed the structure of the press.

Board of Directors:

- President: Chouchou Namegabe Association of Media Women AFEM SK

Vice-President: Dieudonné Malekera of proximal free media

- Secretary: Thais Bagula Freelance Project

coordination:

-Jolly Kamuntu Radio Maendeleo

Control Board:

Chair: Olivier Kiriza club journalists conflict-sensitive

Secretary: Eliane Polepole of Three Screens

This meeting brought together representatives of organizations and media members. It was discussed to evaluate the activities that were organized for two years, the development and adoption of the constitution and the election bylaws. At the same time, the narrative and financial reports supported by an external audit were analyzed. To recap, the Press House in South Kivu is located in the former building of the Coopec Nyawera to

Pay the ticket by selling pineapple and cabbage for the return of Dr. Mukwege in South Kivu

Women victims of sexual violence of different territories in South Kivu that have been treated by Dr. Mukwege disclaimers come to collect their products fields to contribute symbolically ticket for the return of their doctor in Bukavu.

Among these women, there are those who come from Kavumu and Katana north of Bukavu, and otherfrom Idjwi,  Bunyakiri in Kalehe territory west of Bukavu.
Their products are mainly made of pineapple, cabbage, beans and braised.
They will be sold and the money will help the ticket for the Doctor Denis Mukwege returned to Bukavu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Executive Secretary of the Panzi Foundation has received the food, Therese KULUNGU said that this act is a strong signal that shows the love and affection that women victims of sexual violence to their doctor.

Chouchou Namegabe Dubuisson gives an interview to Sokka Gakkai International SGI

In the Interview, the Cordinator of the Women Media Association of South Kivu spoke about the conflict in Congo, which one has claimed over five million lives and been marked by brutal sexual violence against women. This is sometimes incorrectly assumed to be rooted in the culture of the region. Sadly, sexual violence is a tactic of terror in conflicts around the world.

When she started to talk on the radio about the problem of rape in DRC, Chouchou Namegabe Dubuisson said that People were shocked. They said, "How can you talk about sex openly on the radio?" It's a taboo. It wasn't easy.

They started to sensitize people and say, "It's not a problem of sex, it's a big problem of the community." They didn't even have a word to talk about rape, so they had to borrow a word from Kiswahili from Tanzania, and they started talking about ubakaji. It was a new word for eastern Congolese people. So it was the media that sensitized people and told them that there's a problem now that is affecting women and they have to act.

Survivors were rejected first by their families. This happens even though, when the militias attack the villages, they rape women in front of their husbands and children, in public. It's a planned strategy, a way of terrorizing the community.

About awareness rape changing, The Cordinator of Women Media Association of South Kivu says that they have done a lot of sensitization of communities and have also worked with many NGOs to empower women. There has been a change. Some survivors have been reintegrated with their families.

She give an example of a young girl. She was 13 when she was raped, and she had a baby. She had been taken into the forest with her mother, but they managed to escape. Chouchou met her after she heard the testimony of another woman and came to them. There are many women who were hiding what had happened to them, and after hearing the testimonies on the radio, they have come to them. They say that telling them their story is the first step to healing their internal wounds. 

Assassination Attempt on Dr. Denis Mukwege, Prominent Congolese Doctor and Activist

On the evening of 25 October 2012 around 19:00, four armed men, not in uniform, entered Dr. Denis Mukwege’s house in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The armed men forced Dr. Mukwege’s two daughters and their friend at gunpoint to sit silently on the floor until he returned home. On his arrival, roughly half an hour later, one of the armed men opened the gate and forced Dr. Mukwege out of the vehicle and demanded he hand over his keys. The security guard on duty ran out shouting to intervene and was shot and killed. The armed men fired the remaining bullets at Dr. Mukwege, who threw himself on the ground narrowly avoiding the gunfire. The men then fled in Dr. Mukwege’s vehicle, which they quickly abandoned before hijacking another vehicle.  The identity of the armed men and their current location is unknown. 

Dr. Denis Mukwege is the founder and medical director of Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, DRC. The hospital has become known worldwide for the treatment of survivors of sexual violence and women in need of specialised gynaecological care. Dr. Mukwege has been the recipient of numerous international awards including the UN Human Rights Prize, African of the Year, the Olof Palme Prize and the Clinton Global Citizen Award. He has been nominated several times for the Nobel Peace Prize. These awards recognize his extraordinary service, humanity and commitment.

Survey of women's political participation in Shabunda

As part of the promotion of Congolese women, AFEM SK has just completed a research on the political participation of women in Shabunda territory. This survey was conducted in Shabunda center Nkulu Bagabo and Bangoma.
The Association of Media Women in South Kivu aims to develop an effective approach that will touch the real causes of critical positioning of women in democratic institutions and in other areas of community life.

According to the coordinator Chouchou Namegabe, AFEM is proposed to achieve a participatory diagnosis in the community by organizing a survey of different social strata as all sectors of community life are marked by an imbalance of gender relations.
For her, this investigation has led to the social actors at the heart of their development by making a thorough analysis of the problem through individual interviews and focus group by then. Four categories of actors are targeted, including those of political leaders and civil society, women and men at the base.

Bukavu: 12 hours for 900 Congolese Francs

There are many porters in the city of Bukavu. Them are women displaced by war came from different areas of South Kivu, most of which come from Bunyakiri and Walikale.

"Instead of becoming beggars, we preferred to the porters, even if this work does not bring much" said one of them met along the way. It was carrying a can of 20liters of oil back and her baby over the bottle.

"That what we get for Congolese 900Francs (under 1 American dollar) sentence may be for a family to survive? "Exclaimed the woman.

According to most of the women interviewed at the border Ruzizi first, they are often forced to reassure the boss that they are able to transport the package to its destination, even if it weighs is more. Because their families have to live and survive, these women are called to work for which they have been accustomed since childhood because the majority was a farmer.

26 people trained in BARAKA, Kamituga and Kalehe on approach "Gender in the families"

As part of the campaign gender in our families, the Association of Media Women in South Kivu AFEM SK in his project "Advocacy and awareness for the fight against gender-based violence has training 26 people from three areas of South Kivu. 

These trainings were conducted at FIZI / BARAKA, Kamituga / Mwenga and Kalehe. 

For AFEM SK the new approach based on the integration of men alongside women in their different formations that address gender-based violence in families.These courses focused on gender and gender-based violence and human rights.

AFEM SK gives three offices to the listening core clubs

Rural women members of listening core clubs of AFEM SK will carry out their activities without much difficulty. 

This is the essentially of the message they sent to the leadership of the Association of Media Women in South Kivu. AFEM SK in partnership with DIAKONIA gave 3 offices to provide Listening Core Club in BARAKA / FIZI, Kamituga / Mwenga and Kalehe. These offices will enable NCE ensure their awareness, advocacy and recording broadcasts. According to the Coordination of AFEM SK, these offices are given in their project accompanying Listening Core club to the Women's Media Association of South Kivu.

Kalonge: hunger overwhelms the displaced

Approximately four thousand households were displaced Kalonge in Kalehe, following the upsurge in armed conflicts since January 2012. They came from Shabunda, Kalehe and Kabare.

These families are living in difficult conditions. Some are under-housed by host families and others spend the nights in small houses from straw, or in tents, tarpaulins, given by a humanitarian NGO, International Rescue Committee IRC. They are many, men, women and children, suffering from hunger, cold, and homeless.
They reach out to just anybody to find any answer.

Also, nature seems hell-bent against this population: hail rains fell in March, April and May, destroying the plants. A mosaic tackled the cassava plant, abundant food resource in the medium; which led to a general lack of productivity. Thus, neither the host families, or families displaced seem to know what to do.

Bukavu DRCongo: Female carriers ply trade as human pack horses, a vestige of war years

Cesarine Maninga carrying a load of charcoal,

which she sells at a local market in

Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Years of war — when men were off at

battle, killed or returned to find no work

— gave eastern Congo its legions of female

bearers. ‘‘I don’t have a choice,’’

Ms. Maninga said, bitter resignation in

her voice. ‘‘I have to feed my family.’’

It’s around 6 in the morning and the sun is slowly rising, a clear sign that Cesarine Maninga must leave. In one practiced movement, she straps a 50-kilogram sack of charcoal to her back, tosses the rough rope around her head and trudges off toward Bukavu, capital of South Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Ms. Maninga, 43, is just one of hundreds of women who ply this trade each day, lugging loads of up to 100 kilograms, or 220 pounds. On this morning, she hopes to sell makala — dry charcoal used for heating and cooking. She will walk almost 10 kilometers, or about six miles, with the heavy load, a trek she makes at least twice a week. ‘‘I don’t have a choice,’’ she said, bitter

resignation in her voice. ‘‘I have to feed my family’’ — 11 children, and an unemployed husband. Women like Ms. Maninga are a common sight on the streets of Bukavu, striking not for their looks but for the outsize burdens they carry. In French, they are les femmes transporteuses; in Kiswahili, they are called babeba mizigo. Whatever the language, the job is the same: Female carriers are human pack horses. Several international surveys haverated Democratic Republic of Congo as the world’s worst place to be a woman. Often, these studies focus on gender violence. According to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health last year, 48 Congolese women are raped every hour. For years, various militia and rebel groups have used rape as a weapon to destroy communities. Across eastern Congo during these years of war, women have acquired an added burden, that of bearing heavy loads. Horses, donkeys and trucks are too expensive, residents say. The roads, if any, are so bad that the few miles between Ms. Maninga’s mountain shack and Bukavu are nearly impassable, except on foot.

AFEM / SK received an award for the first Forum called The New York Forum for Africa

AFEM / SK has just received an award for his incredible activism for women in South Kivu, in the Forum called The New York Forum for Africa; Dialogue For Action.
The objective of this International Forum is to contribute to the improvement of living conditions of African in terms of safety, health and productivity, the Dialogue for Action Africa brought together a distinguished panel of speakers and participants, including presidents of NGOs, political leaders and academics, business leaders and medical experts, in order to find innovative solutions to major problems facing women in Africa face.
Well established in the 21st century, women around the world continue to face limitations in access to education, employment, care and safety. These limits are particularly increased in this vast African continent, more than half the population is female. African women, who face these challenges every day, are also those who hold rich potential of measures for their resolution.

AFEM SK publishes two documentaries on sexual violence in South Kivu

"The presence of military and political authorities was important

so that we may be edified of the recurring situation of sexual violence in the province of South Kivu." These words was said by participants in the exchange which was organized by Women's Media Association of South Kivu AFEM SK. Due to the material being processed, participants thought that it was essential to share with the military authorities, who have their office in the protection of national territory.
A screening of two documentaries on sexual violence in South Kivu was made to scan the status of women in the territories of South Kivu province. During two hours, the actors of civil society and those politics have had a debate about the question.

AFEM SK is against the aggression of children in DRC

Children, all over the world, not all so lucky. Sometimes some of them from aggression, which is why the United Nations chose the date of June 4, which, since 1992, recalls the violence suffered by thousands of young people.
The majority of young people are exploited in different ways by adults and, although the rights of children are now rights "sacred", poverty, work and conflicts often lead them to perform acts that lead to their loss. It is for this reason that the Association of Media Women of South Kivu joins the United Nations has chosen the June 4 to remember and fight against violence suffered by many young people.
In DRC, for example where several children, girls and boys have become  miners, spend their days in the mines in search of the precious stone.

Restitution of rural women at the base

Soon begins the restitution of 28 rural women members of listening clubs benefit of training on democracy, good governance, gender and HIV / AIDS. Goings of seven areas of the province of South Kivu, these women will make restitution of the acquired material. After training held for them for 4 days in Bukavu, the hour is to harvest the results.
The producers of the Association of Media Women of South Kivu, SK AFEM will be aware of the materialization of the recommendations given by the Programme Officer at AFEM SK Julienne Baseke.

 
In her speech, she had said and I quote: "We ask you to implement the outcomes of this training to materialize the goal of that AFEM SK is advocates; mobilization and advocacy for better participation of women in democracy and to good governance. "end of quote.
At the end of training, these women have mastered the techniques necessary to train others. This is the reason for returning to what is expected by May 31 It was reported that besides the formation of these rural women trainers, the project also provides training for rural women producers to increase the local contribution, the voices and sensibilities of women in local radio programs.

Managers of local radio partners of AFEM SK take ownership gender mainstreaming

Good integration of gender in the media is important  to the advocacy of political and near an effective way of awareness of people. These words are Mrs. Dora Salama, facilitator training of 40 officials of local radio partners AFEM SK.After two days of training, managers of local radio partners in South Kivu AFEM SK assert ownership of these notions of gender mainstreaming. They promise to use it best for a more egalitarian society.Based on the concepts learned necessary, these officials say they understand and internalize several points including: the social relations between women and men, the roles of women and men, the access of women and men to resources, control of resources by women and men, the different opportunities of women.

AFEM SK requires gender mainstreaming in the radio partners

Integration of gender in the media, an examination of the responsible local radio partners in the Association of Media Women of South Kivu AFEM SK. During these two days in charge of radio partners will reflect on how to integrate this approach into their houses of different presses. more than thirty officials radio partners participating in this two-day workshop that started on Thursday, May 24

Should not only involve houses presses of the city of Bukavu, but absolutely and those of territories of South Kivu province, said the Officer Programs AFEM SK, Julienne BASEKE,

28 rural women leaders members of listening clubs will be form for 4 days

With the overall objective of contributing to an improvement in the participation of rural women in democracy and good governance in South Kivu, AFEM SK form 28 women leaders and members of  listen clubsfrom friday, May 11This project directly targets rural women leaders 28 members listening clubs (including 14 trainers and 14 rural producers) and 42 local chefs (at 6 per axis including two MPs, a customary chief, a chief administrative and politico two religious leaders ).Since Friday, May 11, 28 rural women leaders listening club members come from seven territories of South Kivu province will be equipped on the mobilization and advocacy for greater participation of women in democracy and good governance.

Production of 6 magazines by rural women journalists

6 magazines provided at the end of the course have just been produced. After one-month internship in urban radio in Bukavu, the 6 rural women journalists have just produce their magazines. These magazines focus on democracy and good governance. They are broadcast in radio partners AFEM SK in South Kivu province.To justify the professionalism acquired after their selection, these women journalists chose trater relevant topics affecting the lives of Congolese women in general and in particular women in South kivu.
Nsimire Mushagalusa, came from the FM radio Kamole Nyangezi achieved a magazine about "the consideration of military women in the community."

North Kivu: Threats against Ms. Justine Masika Bihamba

"Justine Masika stops you meddle with what does not concern you (HATUTAKU IYI TOUR tuku RATE TUNAYUWA UKO GOMA Yote ITAFIKA)," was the message has received anonymous threats of Ms. Justine Masika, March 27, 2012, at 18:32, on his phone. This message comes after a meeting held in Goma hotdee by some colonels of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) close to General Bosco Ntaganda. Ms Justine Masika be prosecuted after an interview she gave to the BBC in which she welcomed the verdict that had just passed the same day the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Thomas Lubanga Dyilo .The Observatory for the Protection of Human rights, a joint program of the World Organisation against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) calls on an emergency threats to Ms Justine Masika Bihamba.
The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources of threats against Ms Masika Bihamba, coordinator of the Synergy for Women Victims of Sexual Violence (SFVS) and Vice President of Civil Society in North Kivu.

6 rural women journalists are in different radios in the city of Bukavu since the beginning of March 2012. They are in the project "Training of women journalists and productions on democracy and good governance."

The aim is firstly, to strengthen the capacity of women journalists by appropriate training to learn the techniques of harvesting and processing of information, ethics and professional ethics, standards for writing a paper, how to interview ... and to get women trained to do productions on democracy and good governance. Secondly, to enable rural women to make a one-month internship in urban radio.

This action aims to promote and strengthen women journalists who are both qualitatively and quantitatively in the media landscape in South Kivu. These women whose capacities are strengthened could, after being sufficiently equipped, hold positions of choice in the press. They may also produce reports produce magazines and other formats on democracy and good governance.

AFEM identified 16 Farm Radio in the province of South Kivu. 4 in Uvira, Baraka-Fizi in 3, 2​​-in Mwenga Kamituga in Shabunda 1, 3 in Walungu, in a Idjwi 1 in Kalehe, in a Kabare. These women work in local radio but received no training in journalism.

The training will be accompanied by field work and productions with producing AFEM SK on the themes of good governance. The six women journalists in rural internship of 30 days. The six rural women journalists were able to test after a training course organized by AFEM in Bukavu SK. This course will take place in three urban radio because of two journalists from Radio.

Namegabe Chouchou, honored by Diller-von Furstenberg DVF, one of five women who have demonstrated leadership, strength and courage in their respective fields in the world.

The awards were presented at a ceremony on the evening of Friday, March 9 at Newsweek and The Daily Beast Women in the World Summit which was held March 8-10 at Lincoln Center.

The International Women's Day under the weeping in South Kivu

The International Women's Day celebrated on 8 March each year has not been welcome organizations defending the rights of women in South Kivu province. Many organizations believe that we should not celebrate this day as the situation of women of South kivu is not yet improved. In South Kivu's theme was framed with the improvement of living conditions of rural women. Until today, it remains unfortunate and without any shelter. Organizations defending the rights of women think that this day should be a day of reflection and meditation.
At Sange for example, the night of the celebration of International Women's Day, hundreds of women of Sange in Uvira (South Kivu) have reported the rape of six of them in the space of one week by unidentified gunmen.

Mama voice, a new magazine in South Kivu

"Mama Voice" is the name of the new magazine just published in Bukavu. Mama voice is the work of the Association of Media Women of South Kivu, AFEM SK.Its official release took place this Friday, Feb. 3. This first issue includes 12 articles that talk about gender-based violence and eight others on women's participation in the electoral process.

AFEM SK ability rural radio stations in South Kivu and Katanga through training'' in situ'' from January to March 2012

To strengthen the capacities of its partner radio, SFCG uses the expertise of the AFEM for conducting training "in situ" for two weeks each in 4 rural community radio stations. In South Kivu radios Lemera in Uvira, APIDE in Mwenga, and Katanga radios are, Kongolo’s radio in Kongolo territory and Kasenga’radio  in Kasenga territory.
At the end of each of these courses:
- The journalists / producers and reinforce a common understanding of the basics of journalism and radio formats
- The journalists / producers will practice the concepts learned in their daily production
- Journalists producers increase their interest in the subjects and themes used prompting debate on good governance principles and their implementation by the local community