Tyrone student organization supports central African hospital for women and children
Tyrone’s Youth Action Network (YAN) has raised over $3,000 for the Panzi Hospital in central Africa
Tyrone’s Youth Action Network (YAN) club is making a huge difference for women and children in need half way across the world.
For the past several years YAN has been supporting the Panzi Hospital in The Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Peter Frantz, co-founder of the Panzi Foundation, recently visited Tyrone High School to speak about the hospital and its mission.
Panzi Hospital was founded in 1999 by Dr. Denis Mukwege.
The hospital specializes in treating women who are victims of sexual abuse. Because of the stigma associated with sexual abuse in central Africa, the Panzi hospital is one of the few hospitals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where women and children can go to be treated.
Frantz explained that the hospital provides basic quality health care to these women and children. They also promote women’s rights and gender equality, prevent further violence against women and children, and support survivors of rape and sexual violence.
According to Frantz, the money raised by YAN is making a difference in many children’s lives.
YAN’s annual “Pennies for Panzi” fundraiser has raised about $3000 for the hospital so far. The money goes to Aire de Jeux, a place for the children of rape victims to live while the women are treated in the hospital.
One story typical of the women treated at Panzi hospital is Mateso’s story.
According to Panzi Hospital Foundation website, Matseo was 13 years old when she was kidnapped while walking to the market. She was kept as a slave and sexually abused by her kidnappers for nearly a year.
Later she escaped, walking for three days until she found help and was then taken to Panzi Hospital. Matseo is still recovering from her injuries she endured while captured and is still living at Panzi Hospital.
According to Frantz, Tyrone is one of the few schools in the United States that supports the Panzi Hospital and the only school where the project really took off.
“They’re so appreciative and so grateful for our support,” said YAN adviser Tracy Redinger.
“Activism has always been important to our school”, said co-adviser Mr. Cummins McNitt, because “we strive to create a positive school climate and a conscientious student body.”
The YAN club will hold its annual Pennies for Panzi fundraiser in the spring.
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