Today we’d like to introduce you to Bijou Mushengezi.
Hi Bijou, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born and raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo and witnessed recurring wars from 1997 to 2001 which have plunged women into a situation of acute vulnerability due to rape and repeated looting of the property of women in a rural area. Right after college, I felt the urge in my heart to volunteer at Panzi Hospital in Congo directed by the Nobel peace Prize Dr. Denis Mukwege. Dr Mukwege’s relentless fight for transitional Justice became my inspiration.
In fact, In Congo, rape is used as a weapon to accommodate the illicit exportation of Congolese minerals. Families are forced to abandon their villages due to insecurity which are then occupied by rebels for mineral exploitation. As a volunteer at Panzi Hospital, I saw women and children as young as 18 months who were savagely raped. Dr. Mukwege was graciously treating them and because of that was named, the man who mends women. (You can learn more here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neiY-N7Klbo)
After treatment, most women didn’t have a place to go as they fled from their village and were economically unable to take care of themselves. Panzi Hospital then started a socio-economic empowerment program for victims of sexual violence. After medical treatment, they transitioned to this program that’s where I oversaw helping women, discover their potential, learn new skills, and turn these potentials and new skills into activities generating income for their empowerment.
After moving to the United States in 2010, my heart stayed very close to those women and when I was able to get their news, one thing I heard from most of them was most of their offspring wanted to become soldiers, but their choice was not prompt with the desire to serve the Country, but rather to kill whoever raped their mothers if they could one day identify them. At that very moment, I realized my country was not only trapped in a cycle of poverty but also recurring war.
In 2012, my uncle escaped an assassination attempt, and his activism’s popularity increased because of his bravery and resilience to advocate for women and children in the war zone of Congo. Due to this incident, he found refuge in Europe. The awakening will happen in my life when my uncle decides to move back to Congo despite all the threats. I felt guilty for not standing up for my people and not speaking up for all these women I served back in Congo and whom I always held close to my heart. I knew it was the moment for me to do something.
I started by collecting clothes for babies that I will send to Panzi Hospital in Congo and helping women and children as much as I could. Over years I realized that if I wanted to impact more lives, I had to structure myself and this is how I founded a nonprofit.
Moseka Action Project was created in 2019 to provide quality education to children born out rape while economically empowering their mothers. Today I feel like my life has meaning because of the impact it has on other lives. Each time I receive positive news from our beneficiaries, my day is brightened, and each time I receive new cases of survivors of rape, a new offspring of rape in need of education, a child rescued from child labor in mining companies, or sex trafficking, my heart is in pain but a pain that transforms itself to courage to work even harder and do more good and change one life at the time.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, running this ministry has not been a smooth road. As a mother of five children, it has been quite challenging to balance family and ministry on one hand, and on the other hand, finding people to support the ministry in all aspects has been also quite challenging. Moseka was approved a 501 C3 in August 2019, as we were preparing to launch our gala for March 2020, the world was hit by covid 19. For two years we held virtual fundraising with a very small audience. In 2021 I moved from Virginia to upstate New York, to a very small town, and this situation is not positively impacting the ministry. I see it as another chapter to Moseka’s story and truly believe that God will continue to provide.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an activist and Philanthropist. I’m the founder and President of the Moseka Action Project, I homeschool my children (Preschool) and I run a home-based business of spice called “Viungo Seasoning” Viungo is a Swahili word for spice. I think I might be well known for my cooking; I am a kitchen lover. I am proud of the most important decision I have ever taken in my life, to follow Jesus. Being a child of God is what sets me apart from others.
What matters most to you? Why?
Life! Life really matters to me and is the reason why with my nonprofit we provide education to offspring of rape while we economically empower their mothers who choose to keep and give life. Where there is life, there is HOPE,
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mosekaactionproject.org/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/mosekaactionproject?igshid=ODBkMDk1MTU=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MosekaActionProject
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mosekaaction?s=21&t=wrk4MtMtljLehAXM4KJHNA
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCsK1hoEbkOGY88OeVGu5Zog
Image Credits
MoseKa Action Project
