Out of the city of Butembo in North Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, COPERMA (an organization of farmer-businessmen organized for the betterment of society), has established several camps to help girl-mothers, who are suffering to maintain a living for themselves and their children. All of these women have suffered sexual violence during the recent war which ravaged eastern Congo and all of them have babies as a result. They are frequently rejected by their families and society and left to fend for themselves. They are refused access to a further education and are exposed to further exploitation in the society.
The program is directed by Maman Syuswa Nzoli Marie and has four camps with a total of almost 1000 girls.
The general objectives of the program are to contribute to the elimination of all sorts of discrimination against women, to give the girls some place to go, to contribute to the promotion and general knowledge of the rights of women. Those in charge try to assure some professional formation in sewing, soap-making, and brickmaking and to elevate their intellectual level through alphabetization. Eventually, of course, they hope for reinsertion into the society with a consequent means of support. Those in charge of the program also hope to eliminate discrimination against these girls and to try to create favorable conditions for their employment.
The present needs are great to assist the personnel who teach these girls and administrate the program, the buying of sewing materials and machines, materials for soapmaking, and the betterment of the buildings used for the teaching. They also try to give the girls a meal at noon. They have received some donations but are still in great need.
Donations for this program may be forwarded to Brother Albert Becker, osc, Crosier Fathers and Brothers, Box 500, ONAMIA MN 56359-0500. | 
