Transformative Programming
Transformative Livelihoods
The Panzi Foundation, renowned for its holistic care model, goes beyond medical and psychosocial support for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. It focuses on long-term economic empowerment through innovative livelihoods programs that equip survivors with practical skills and access to income-generating opportunities.
These programs not only help survivors reintegrate into society but also challenge the structural inequalities that fuel conflict and violence. Below are key initiatives within Panzi Foundation’s transformative livelihoods programs:
Jewelry Program
Empowering Survivors, Disrupting Exploitation
Launched in 2020, Panzi’s Jewelry Program addresses the link between sexual violence and the battle for control of mineral wealth in the DRC. Armed groups often use sexual violence to dominate mining regions, and the Jewelry Program seeks to break this cycle by providing survivors with dignified employment and training in an ethically driven sector.
Skill Development
Survivors receive comprehensive training in metal transformation, basic jewelry design, and lapidary (stone-faceting). This hands-on education equips them with specialized skills, empowering them to create high-quality jewelry from raw materials.
Building a Sustainable Value Chain
The program is designed to be self-sustaining. In 2022, the Panzi jewelry workshop acquired metal-smelting tools and processing equipment to support a complete value chain—from sourcing raw materials to selling finished products.
SCALING IMPACT
To expand the program’s reach, Panzi is training local trainers. By 2022, four trainers had been trained, and two beneficiaries had attended a “training for trainers” program in Dar Es Salaam, paving the way for broader community engagement and participation in the jewelry sector.
I am so proud of myself when I consider where I have come from. I find that I have a big importance in my society. I can create something that hasn’t been in the Congo before.
Coffee Program
Collaborative Economic Empowerment
Through a partnership with a Goma-based coffee company, the Panzi Foundation’s Coffee Program aims to provide survivors with economic independence while supporting the local coffee industry.
Holistic training
Participants are trained in every aspect of the coffee production process, including growing, roasting, and barista skills. This holistic approach ensures that survivors can gain long-term employment or even start their own coffee-related businesses.
Market access
By partnering with a local coffee company, Panzi ensures that the coffee produced has a ready market. The roasting facility and coffee shop provide a direct route for survivors to sell their coffee, creating a sustainable source of income for participants.
Juice-Making Program
A Pathway to Economic Independence
In addition to jewelry and coffee initiatives, Panzi Foundation has introduced a Juice-Making Program that supports survivors by teaching them how to produce and sell fruit juice products. This initiative aims to:
Skill Transfer
Survivors learn essential skills in fruit sourcing, juice production, packaging, and sales. These skills open doors for entrepreneurship or employment in local markets.
Local Market Integration
Like other livelihood programs, the Juice-Making Program connects participants with local marketplaces, giving them direct access to sell their products. This fosters economic self-reliance and ensures that the products are integrated into the local economy.
What is keeping me going is really the strength of women. I discovered how women are strong, how women can rebuild, and give hope for our humanity.
Dr. Denis Mukwege
Impact & vision
The Panzi Foundation’s transformative livelihoods programs not only provide survivors with the practical tools to rebuild their lives but also challenge the deep-seated economic inequalities that perpetuate violence. Whether through jewelry-making, coffee production, or juice manufacturing, these programs empower women to become economically self-sufficient, support their families, and contribute to the resilience of their communities. By fostering sustainable livelihoods, Panzi is leading a movement toward long-term recovery and societal transformation across the DRC.
These initiatives are integral to the broader mission of the Panzi Foundation, which seeks not only to heal the physical and psychological wounds of survivors but also to offer a path toward economic independence and empowerment. By investing in survivors, Panzi ensures that they can reclaim their futures and contribute to the growth and development of their communities.
Stand up. Stand strong. Stand with us.