Save the Congo does Vagina Monologues for global campaign in London

The Save The Congo campaign aims to help bring the human tragedy overwhelming the Congo to the attention of the public at large and raise funds to help provide a generation of Congolese children with Education; and support V-Day’s World Wide Campaign to bring peace & power to Women and Girls of the Congo.

The fundraising event was held at The Human Rights Action Centre, Amnesty International. 17-25 New Inn Yard, London, EC2A with guests including comedian Eddy Kadi who was the guest speaker and the first black model on the cover of South African Sports Illustrated magazine Joelle Kayembe who flew all the way from her adopted home of South Africa just for the fund raiser. Both guest are of Congolese desent.

The Save the Congo production of The Vagina Monologues, Eve Ensler’s bold and hilarious mega-hit produced by Vava Tampa, who is Congolese and director of humanitarian group Save the Congo, takes the reader, viewer through various intense emotions – pain, pleasure,hurt, joy - as the intimate life stories unfold about love, orgasm, betrayal, self-discovery, rape,domestic violence, abuse, childbirth, amongst other experiences of women.

Eve Ensler, author of The Vagina Monologues, is the founder of V-Day which in partnership with the Panzi Hospital Foundation earlier this year built and opened the City of Joy for survivors of sexual violence, many of whom are too poor to move away from the areas where rape is prevalent.
The women stay there for six months where they are taught about HIV, family planning, their rights, self-defence and will also receive dance, art and music therapies to help them recover. The centre was built by the Congolese women themselves.

20% of the proceeds of the fundraiser by Save the Congo play will be donated to the Women of City of Joy organisation based in Bakavu, DRC.

The Congo has been the scene of the bloodiest war since1998, this war continues for control of the countries natural resources by local and regional powers. Congo is widely considered to be the richest country in the world, its untapped deposits of raw minerals are estimated to be worth in excess of US$ 24 trillion.

Save The Congo is an independent, not-for-profit advocacy organisation campaigning for the restoration of peace, security, justice and human dignity in the Congo. The organisation receives no money from governments or corporations, and is staffed by a team of Congolese student and young professional based in London.