Founder and Executive Founder and Executive Director

Amani Mataboro founded the Kivu Sewing Workshop for the Welfare of Women after his cousins, Kahumba and Mirenge took refuge in his home after both being raped in 2006 by Rawandan Rebels known as the Interahamwe (see their stories here and here). In addition to being brutalized by their experiences, the two young women were ostracized in their own village and ridiculed as 'wives of the Interahamwe.'

Amani and his wife Amini Bukanda wanted to find a way to provide a sense of purpose and self-worth for Kahumba and Mirenge as well as way for them to sustain themselves economically. Since Amini was an accomplished seamstress--training them in sewing skills seemed the best solution. When word spread about what Amani and Amini were trying to do for their cousins, other victims of sexual violence asked for training as well and the Kivu Sewing Workshop for the Welfare of Women was born.

Amani Mataboro was born in Eastern Congo and like millions of others, is also a victim of the nation's violence. Both of his parents were killed in 1997 during one of the many waves of fighting there. After being schooled by his elder brother, Ephraim, Amani earned a degree in Applied Pedagogy with concentration in English language Teaching Methodology and Translation. He has worked as an educator and interpreter for numerous international organizations including, Johns Hopkins University, Boston University, United Nations Multi-National Force in the Congo (MONUC), the International Rescue Committee, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial and Museum and with Yahoo's News' war reporting project, Kevin Sites in the Hot Zone.

Head Instructor

Amini Bukanda is a talented seamstress and is an instructor in the Kivu Sewing Worshop. She teaches students sewing and knitting skills while also helping them progress in literacy through unique word embroidery projects. She also provides counseling to women in the workshop. Amini has recruited other instructors to the workshop encouraging them to work for little to no pay. 'I do not like to see other people suffering', says Amini, 'this is one of the reasons why I encouraged my husband to create the Kivu Sewing Workshop to become a place of comfort to women.'

Instructor

Lazarus is a married father of six who works as an instructor at the workshop. He is a tailor specializing in women's clothing. He has been working in the workshop since its began and is always ready to help. Unlike others who have worked for only a few weeks and leave because of the lack of pay, Lazarus is commited to helping the women of the workshop even though who own life is very difficult, trying to very courageous, he's not too demanding, differently to provide his children with food, shelter, education and medical care.

Instructor

Mabanda is a tailor who specialized in men's clothing. He learned his trade from his father, who was also a tailor. He is 45 years, married and father of eight children.

Guard

Claude works as a guard for the workshop, sleeping in the building and night to ensure no one steals the school's three pedal-operated sewing machines and fabric. He is 24 years old and was orphaned by the fighting in Eastern Congo in 1998. After the death of his parents Claude could no longer afford to continue with his education and began smoking marijuana to as a way to cope. Now he hopes to rebuild his life and with support, possibly return to school. Until then he is committed to helping support and protect the futures of other war victims.

Part-Time Guard

I am Murhula Munyololo and am now 25 years old. I was born in Mumosho where I grew up. During the 1997 war, two of my elder brothers were shot in front of my eyes and everything in our home was looted. Because my parents could no longer pay school fees for me I had to stop going to school. I decided to go to Bukavu to look for work. Since I have little education, the only work I can get is as a houseboy, servant or guard. I'm not making enough money as a houseboy to take care of myself and my parents so I also work part-time as a guard at night at Amani's workshop.