He 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 the late 1990s during the many waves of fighting there. Amani finished his education with help from his elder brother, Ephraim, and founded Action Kivu, when his two cousins took refuge in his home after both were raped in 2006 by Rwandan rebels known as the Interahamwe.
Amani and his wife Amini Bukanda wanted to find a way to provide a sense of purpose and self-worth for his cousins as well as way for them to sustain themselves economically. Amini was an accomplished seamstress, and trained the girls in sewing. When word spread about what Amani and Amini were doing for their cousins, other victims of sexual violence asked for training, and the Kivu Sewing Workshop was born. Since then the organization has grown to include educational sponsorship of children in addition to vocational training programs for women.
Tuesday, April 5th: 1-2pm
Columbia University IAB, Room 501B