It’s time again for Run for Congo Women, an inspirational run, walk, or hike that supports Women for Women International’s work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In only a few years, it has blossomed into a global movement with a very simple message: Congolese lives matter. The lives of Congolese women are significant. The lives of Congolese children are precious. They have waited far too long. They are worth our effort. We are running to help.
Run for Congo Women: Morrison, CO. 5K and 10K (Run/Walk)September 19, 2009. Run begins at 8 AM at Bear Creek Lake Park REGISTER TODAY!
Run for Congo Women: Portland, OR. 3 or 9 Mile Run/Walk Saturday, September 19, 2009. Run begins at 8:30 AM. Join us at Lower Macleay Park, NW 29th & Upshur, and show your support for Congolese women survivors of war REGISTER TODAY!
Run for Congo Women, Tempe, AZ. 5k Run/Walk
Saturday, September 27, 2009. Run Begins at 8AM. Come run in Kiwanis Park and send a message of hope and support to Congolese Women! REGISTER TODAY!
If you are unable to participate, please consider making a donation to our work in DR Congo.
Show your support by becoming a fan of Run for Congo Women’s Facebook Page.
Women for Women International has partnered with the RAISE Hope for Congo campaign to kick off the Congo Challenge, a three month program that will work with activists to expand the movement for Congo and familiarize them with the many ways that one can be an advocate for Congo. The Challenge will take place from March through May 2009, and each month will focus on a particular avenue for activism: RAISE Awareness, RAISE Your Voice, and RAISE the Profile. Participants will be given a menu of actions that they can take each month, which will be supplemented with backgrounders, training guides, conference calls, videos and activist profiles.
You can share what you’re doing to take action and make an impact by posting thoughts, photos, and video on the in the Congo Challenge Forum and inspire others to get involved!
If you’re looking for another way to raise awareness and sponsorships for Congolese women, join Women for Women International in theRun for Congo Women. Run for Congo Women was created as a grassroots movement to send a message of hope and dignity to women living through this conflict.Runs will be held all throughout the country in 2009, click here to learn how to get started.
You can sign up now to participate in Run for Congo Women in Frederick, Maryland on Saturday, April 11, 2009. This run is an inspirational run, walk or hike that supports Women for Women International’s work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In 2005, Women for Women International supporter Lisa Shannon decided to run 30 miles in Portland and raise money to sponsor 80 women in DR Congo. She heard about the atrocities Congolese women were facing and decided to act.
Since then, thousands of people have participated in the Run for Congo Women and have joined Lisa in taking direct action to support Congolese women who are enduring one of the most violent wars to date and whose suffering is going largely unnoticed. This run is part a seven event run series happening nationwide!
YOU can make all the difference today by signing up to participate. Register today and you will be an advocate for women who are being used as weapons of war in the deadliest conflict since World War II.
To learn more about the Run for Congo Women, visit the official website at www.runforcongowomen.org or watch this video.
If you are unable to participate, please consider making a donation to our work in DR Congo.
Run for Congo Women – Frederick will be held Saturday, April 11 at the William R. Talley Rec Center and the registration fee is $20. Participation is easy! The event is a 5K and you can run or walk at your own pace. By registering, you will receive a t-shirt on the day of the run and most importantly, an opportunity to change the life of a Congolese woman.
Help us spread the word about Run for Congo Women by becoming a fan of our Facebook Page.
At the Run for Congo Women in Chicago one runner went above and beyond to not only support women of the Congo with her participation but to spread the word about this powerful movement. Running with her children, Charise Carter took a video of her day beginning with her arrival at the park and following her through the Run for Congo Women. Along with footage of the run and some activities before and after, you can see Priscilla Muntemba Taylor, Women for Women International’s Sponsorship Coordinator for DRC, Rwanda, and Sudan speak about the organization and sponsorship program. Charise’s video will give you an idea of the energy and enthusiasm surrounding the whole event!
By shooting this video and posting it on YouTube for anyone to see, Charise is able to reach out to so many more people and spread the word about this powerful grassroots movement that tells the world that Congolese lives matter. Thank you Charise for sharing your experience with us and for doing all you can to help women in the Congo!
You can view the video below and learn how you too can become a part of the movement at www.runforcongowomen.org.
Monica McGuire was so affected by what she saw during the 60 Minutes segment on women in the Congo that she knew right away she had to find someway to get involved. Visiting the Run for Congo Women site and learning about the different ways she could participate, Monica decided to dedicate the half marathon she was training for to the women of DRC. Receiving a huge outpouring of support from friends and family, Monica raised more than $3,300!
Knowing her efforts were for a greater cause helped Monica feel more motivated during her run. She says, “While the course was a bit tougher than I thought it would be, remembering the cause for which I was running helped me across the finished line feeling inspired.” Thank you Monica for all you’ve done and congratulations on your first half marathon!
A supporter from Macalester College in Minnesota has gone the extra mile to do a Lone Run for Congo Women with her father. After hearing about Women for Women and the Run for Congo Women at a conference sponsored by Congo Global Action Julia was inspired and wanted to do a run herself! Getting her dad involved, the two ran 13 miles each to raise money and awareness for the women of the DRC. Julia and her dad raised $7,000! Before the run they held several parties to raise money from their run and raise awareness about their cause. Partygoers and supporters stay informed about the situation in DRC with monthly updates from Julia. Thank you Julia for all you’ve done!
For more information visit www.womenforwomen.org and to find out how you can dedicate your run to women in DRC visit our site!
Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds, has started his own New York Run for Congo team and is doing a great job of getting the word out about his involvement. He has sent out personal emails, as well as posted on Facebook, MySpace and blogs. Donelson is encouraging friends and acquaintances to join him and the Heart of Diamonds team this Saturday at the Run for Congo Women. Thanks Dave for helping us spread the word!
Check out Dave’s site below and see a great example of joining the effort and spreading the word.
Please join the organizers of the Run for Congo Women – St. Louis for a free screening of the film “The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo.”
Date and time: Tuesday, September 30th, 7:00pm
Where: St Louis County Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd, St Louis, Mo.
Questions: Please call 314-313-3795
This extraordinary film was the winner of the Sundance Special Jury Prize (Documentary) and was shot in the war zones of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The film shatters the silence that surrounds the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. Tens of thousands of women and girls have been systematically kidnapped, raped, mutilated and tortured by soldiers from both foreign militias and the Congolese army. A survivor of gang rape herself, Emmy Award – winning filmmaker Lisa F. Jackson travels through the DRC to understand what is happening and why.
The film features interviews with activists, peacekeepers, physicians, and even – chillingly – the indifferent rapists who are soldiers of the Congolese Army. It also provides inspiring examples of resiliency, resistance, courage and grace as dozens of survivors recount their stories. (76 minutes)
Please join our local organizers as they continue to spread awareness of the horrific atrocities being committed against thousands of Congolese women and girls. Run for Congo Women benefits Women for Women International’s program in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Only two weeks left to register for the Run for Congo Women in Morrison, CO and Portland, OR! Don’t miss your chance to participate in this amazing run and lend your support to Congolese women survivors of war! Through your support, Women for Women International will be able to continue providing the women we work with the chance to rebuild their lives after one of the deadliest and most brutal wars in history. But most importantly, when you Run for Congo Women you send Congolese women survivors of war a simple and hopeful message: that they are significant, that their lives are precious, and that you are running to help.
Today in the Democratic Republic of Congo, people are still struggling after one of the deadliest wars in all history. Millions have died and new conflicts threaten peace every day. For women in Congo, brutal gang rape and torture are a daily reality. 60-80% of women are now single heads of their homes due to the conflict.
Run for Congo Women is a grassroots run/walk that has grown into a global movement and is dedicated to supporting Women for Women International’s Congo Program. When you Run for Congo Women, you are sending a simple message: that Congolese women are significant, that their lives are precious, and that you are running to help. You are also providing women with the chance to rebuild their lives after their lives have been torn apart by war.
Run for Congo Women will be coming to following cities!
Morrison, CO – September 13, 2008
Portland, OR – September 14, 2008
New York, NY – October 4, 2008
Phoenix/Tempe, AZ- October 5, 2008
Chicago, IL - October 11, 2008
St. Louis, MO – October 18, 2008
To register today and for more information, visit http://www.runforcongowomen.org/index.php . You have the opportunity to change the life of a Congolese woman today.
Posted by Jen Morabito 
Posted by Jen Morabito 
Posted by Jen Morabito 
