ABOUT US
We Build Future
is an education fund building changemakers.
One by one.
Many of us have no idea what it means not to be able to go to school. We have plenty of options, and most of us can create our own future by choosing a suitable education. But many kids and young people around the world don´t have that luxury. 250 million children lack basic reading, writing and math skills.
We Build Future is an education fund focusing on lasting effect. We believe that real and lasting change will come by empowering young individuals with knowledge through education, and by giving them work experience. That will provide them with resources to take local leadership and help build a better future for themselves, their family and the community.
Panzi Hospital is located in Bukavu, the largest city in South Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. It functions as a general hospital for the local population, but is mostly known for its support for survivors of sexual violence and women suffering from complex gynaecological conditions such as obstetric fistula.
HISTORY
Panzi Hospital was officially opened in 1999. It was founded by Dr Denis Mukwege with assistance from CEPAC, the national Pentecostal Church Organisation. Swedish and British development funds, PMU and Läkarmissionen supported the infrastructure. Its mission is to assure holistic quality care to the popu¬lation through improved health care service delivery, community outreach activities, and advocacy. Over the longer term the hospital has a vision to grow into a competitive teaching hospital that is a centre of excellence, promoting health care for everyone.
The hospital is located in Panzi commune about 8km from the centre of Bukavu in South Kivu Province. It is the only hospital in the Ibanda Health Zone, but accepts patients from throughout the region. Renowned for its treatment of survivors of sexual violence and women suffering from severe gynaecological conditions the hospital has received a great deal international attention and publicity. Dr Wukwege has been the recipient of numerous awards in recognition of his work at Panzi Hospital and has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Since the official opening the hospital has expanded its services. It now comprises of four departments obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, surgery and internal medicine. In 2012 a cervical cancer screening project was implemented, which is the first in eastern DRC.
Maison Dorcas
Maison Dorcas is a transit and safety house for survivors of violence or those under long-or medium-term care for fistula and incontinence healing. Women receive training in literacy and numeracy, small business management and other skills aimed at improving livelihood. In addition, women benefit from continuous psychosocial and medical care, including group and individual therapy. The transit house partners with local women’s associations and cooperatives to provide assistance with family mediation and micro-credit. We Build Future has paid for solar panels to help stabilize the electricity at the Dorcas center, as well as paying for education for the young women and their children.
DR. DENIS MUKWEGE
Nobel Peace Prize winner Denis Mukwege Mukengere, is the founder and medical director of Panzi Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). As a young child, Dr. Mukwege accompanied his father, a Pentecostal pastor, while visiting sick members of the community. This later inspired him to become a doctor. The Swedish Pentecostal mission helped support him in his medical studies. He decided to specialize in gynecology and obstetrics after observing that female patients at Lemera Hospital suffered from insufficient medical care, which caused complications during their deliveries.
Amid the war in eastern DRC, in 1998, he initiated the construction of Panzi Hospital in Bukavu. The hospital has become known worldwide for the treatment of survivors of sexual violence and women with severe gynecological problems. Dr. Denis Mukwege has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades and in 2009 was named African of the Year.
Dr Mukwege is a tireless advocate for the rights of women in DRC. He has addressed the United Nations General Assembly on the matter and regularly travels abroad raising awareness of the situation in Eastern DRC. In between responsibilities managing and administering Panzi Hospital and overseeing projects at the Panzi Foundation, Dr Mukwege continues to see patients and perform surgery two days a week.