Holistic Care
Transitional Housing: Safe Havens for Healing and Empowerment
Panzi Foundation operates multiple safe houses and transitional care facilities across South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), serving as crucial parts of the Panzi Model. These facilities offer safe spaces for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, both adults and children, to heal, rebuild, and regain independence. Our transitional housing serves survivors recovering from trauma, as well as other vulnerable members of the community, including young girls rescued from sexual exploitation.
Maison Dorcas
Maison Dorcas is our primary transit and community center in Bukavu, serving young women and older teenagers (17+) survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, as well as other vulnerable women from the community.
Save a girl
Panzi Foundation operates the Save a Girl program which supports four safe houses dedicated to supporting young girls aged 10-14 who have experienced exploitation in Bukavu’s brothels.
Transitional Housing for young women survivors
Maison Dorcas
Maison Dorcas is our primary transit and community center in Bukavu, serving young women and older teenagers (17+) survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, as well as other vulnerable women from the community. Since 2004, Maison Dorcas has provided comprehensive, multifaceted programming designed to support survivors’ healing and long-term independence. Women can either reside at our facility, typically survivors with children who need safe housing and intensive support, or attend our training programs as day participants. By welcoming both survivors and non-survivors into our programs, we help protect participants from potential stigma, as not everyone who enters our doors has experienced violence.
Our services include trauma-informed psychosocial counseling, medical care coordination, and legal advocacy to help survivors navigate the justice system. We provide vocational training in skills such as tailoring, wood-working, jewelry-making, pastry-making, hairdressing, soap-making, and small business management, empowering women to achieve economic self-sufficiency. These training courses are open to all participants. Educational support ranges from literacy classes to secondary school sponsorship for those whose studies were interrupted. Participants also engage in group workshops on health education, conflict resolution, and women’s rights. Throughout their stay, residential survivors receive nutritious meals, safe housing, and connection to a supportive community of peers and trained staff who understand their experiences. This holistic approach addresses the interconnected needs of survivors, physical safety, emotional healing, practical skills, and social reintegration, recognizing that recovery requires more than any single intervention.
Since 2004, Maison Dorcas has provided comprehensive support including:
Vocational Training
Survivors can receive training in various trades such as carpentry, leatherwork, IT, entrepreneurship, tailoring, and finance.
Literacy & Numeracy
Many women who come to Maison Dorcas (including our Library) also participate in literacy and numeracy training to further enhance their economic opportunities.
Life Skills
Training in essential life skills helps survivors navigate personal and professional challenges after reintegrating into society.
Childcare & Education
While mothers undergo training, their children receive care and education, allowing them to focus on their own healing and skill development without worry.
Economic Networks
Survivors gain access to community resources such as Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), where they can save money and receive microloans to start businesses. They also benefit from connections to production and sales outlets, where they can sell goods they’ve produced.
Safe Accommodation
Survivors staying at Maison Dorcas are provided with accommodation, meals, and basic needs while they undergo training. Residency at Maison Dorcas can last anywhere from a few months to several years, depending on the survivor’s circumstances and progress.
Maison Dorcas Library
Fostering a love of reading & learning
The newly established library at Maison Dorcas is more than just a collection of books—it is a beacon of empowerment for the children and beneficiaries who call our center home. This dedicated space nurtures a culture of learning and curiosity, providing access to educational resources that can transform lives.
For children, the library offers a safe, engaging environment where they can explore stories that inspire and expand their imaginations, while for survivors and residents, it serves as a vital tool for personal growth, skill-building, and literacy. By fostering a love of reading and learning, the library empowers our community to dream bigger, gain new knowledge, and build a foundation for a more hopeful and independent future.
With each passing day, the desire to continue to live sparkled in Sarah’s eyes and it was she who encouraged the medical staff not to lose hope.
Our impact at Maison Dorcas
Since its inception in 2004, Maison Dorcas has transformed the lives of thousands of survivors and other vulnerable women in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
people in transitional housing in 2023, including 48 children
vocational training graduates in 2023
members of small business incubators in 2023
Transitional Housing for child survivors
Save a girl
Panzi Foundation operates the Save a Girl program which supports four safe houses dedicated to supporting young girls aged 10-14 who have experienced exploitation in Bukavu’s brothels. These facilities provide safe spaces where girls can heal, rebuild their lives, and reclaim their futures.
Since 2017, our community partners have worked on the ground to identify girls trapped in sexual exploitation, raise awareness about the harm of child sex trafficking in communities, and advocate for zero tolerance with brothel owners and local authorities. When girls are ready to leave, they are welcomed into one of our facilities where they live with a house mother and up to 10 other girls.
Our community partners run ongoing campaigns throughout Bukavu to prevent child sexual exploitation, working with local authorities, churches, schools, brothel owners, and community members to create zero tolerance for the trafficking and abuse of minors. Approximately 800 children under 18 remain trapped in sexual slavery in Bukavu. Our work continues until every child is free.
Since 2017, Save a Girl programs have provided comprehensive support including:
Safe Accommodation & Care
Medical & Psychological Support
All girls receive comprehensive medical care and trauma counseling through Panzi Hospital, helping them heal from the deep wounds of sexual violence and exploitation.
Education
Girls are enrolled in formal schooling with full support including school fees, uniforms, supplies, and materials. Education continues even after they leave the safe house and return to their families.
Life Skills & Rehabilitation
Through therapeutic activities, recreational outings, and life skills training, girls rebuild their self-worth, confidence, and vision for their futures.
Family Reintegration
After rehabilitation, girls are carefully reintegrated with family members or relatives who can provide safe, supportive homes. Our team maintains ongoing contact to ensure successful transitions.
Support for Young Mothers
Some girls arrive with babies born from rape. Both mothers and infants receive comprehensive health and social care.
Our impact through save a girl
Since 2017, the Save a Girl program has transformed hundreds of lives:
girls provided safe housing and schooling after choosing to leave sexually exploitative circumstances (2017-2024)
girls currently in safe house accommodation
girls receiving continued educational support after reintegration
A Pathway to Empowerment & Independence
Our transitional housing facilities play a vital role within the broader Panzi Model by addressing the long-term needs of survivors, including both adults and children. Through our programs, survivors not only recover from trauma but also gain the tools they need to build brighter futures for themselves and their families. By fostering economic empowerment, education, and sustainable livelihoods, our safe houses help survivors break free from cycles of poverty, exploitation, and stigma, reclaim their dignity, and contribute to the restoration of their communities.
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