Our History
HISTORY
Helping Hand for Survivors, Inc. was founded in 2012 by Kashoro Nyenyezi and Dr. Jean Claude Luhere, who each survived atrocities committed by militias during the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Having endured the terror of these war crimes and eventually finding asylum in the United States, they were driven by profound empathy and compassion to build an organization dedicated to helping those who suffered as they did.
Today, Helping Hand for Survivors, Inc. focuses on providing essential relief and mental health services to victims of rape and HIV, while also raising funds to support health, education, and family placement for children abandoned due to the violence. This mission reflects the founders’ commitment to restoring dignity, opportunity, and hope to those affected by conflict in their homeland.
THE BEGINNING
Driven by their personal experiences as survivors of war crimes, Kashoro Nyenyezi and Dr. Jean Claude Luhere established Helping Hand for Survivors in 2012 to offer relief and mental health care to victims of sexual violence and HIV. They also address the needs of children born from these traumatic events who have been abandoned.
Many of these children suffer from malnutrition and related health complications. To address these issues, the founders established a local team in Congo that works tirelessly to save lives. Recently, they have focused on the emotional trauma caused by sexual violence. Both founders have undergone specialized training to facilitate the healing process for survivors, aiming to reduce suicide rates and combat malnutrition.
Dr. Jean Claude and Kashoro Nyenyezi frequently travel to Congo to directly support the families and communities they serve.
MISSION
We envision a future where the next generation in developing countries is empowered to build self-sufficient, thriving communities, with a special focus on uplifting women and children.
The devastating impact of war touches communities worldwide, especially in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The DRC has seen unprecedented loss, with women and children bearing the brunt of the violence. Despite its wealth of natural resources, the DRC remains one of the poorest nations, with ongoing conflict leaving women, girls, and children particularly vulnerable to sexual and gender-based violence, and WASH.
Helping Hand for Survivors (HHS) provides pathways for resilience, healing, and empowerment amidst these dire circumstances.
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/HHSDRC
https://www.linkedin.com/company/helping-hand-for-survivors-in-the-drc/
https://www.instagram.com/helping_hand_for_survivors_drc/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqQjpWUMEZIseeqhvhfSe8w
Helping Hand for Survivors, Inc. is dedicated to empowering women, girls, and children impacted by conflict and severe poverty. Through education, comprehensive support, and unwavering advocacy, we strive to nurture recovery and build pathways to self-reliance.
Our mission champions social justice, advocates for survivors of gender-based violence, and aims to create opportunities for every individual to thrive.
