Archbishop Fred Hiltz, the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, visited Bujumbura in February.
The story of Francine Nijimbere, an African woman whose arms were chopped off by her enraged brother-in-law, has sparked a flurry of concerned phone calls and emails to the offices of the General Synod in Toronto, including The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF).
The article on Francine was published in the May issue of the Anglican Journal.Anglicans in Canada are asking what they can do. Our answer? Continue to support the ministry of PWRDF to end violence against women, to bring justice to women survivors of violence, and to empower them to re-build their lives.
Including Francine and thousands of women just like her.
Francine is one of the beneficiaries of the women’s empowerment program of the Mother’s Union. Located in the Diocese of Bujumbura in the tiny, war-torn African nation of Burundi, PWRDF has been funding the Mothers’ Union program since 2006, with support from Anglicans in Canada. Among other things, the program focuses on ending violence against women and women’s economic empowerment through outreach, support and counselling. In 2007 and 2008, PWRDF provided a total of $72,500 towards programs at the Mothers’ Union.
Archbishop Fred Hiltz, the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, visited Bujumbura in February. The Diocese of Bujumbura is part of the Anglican Church of Burundi and a partner of PWRDF since 1992. The Mothers’ Union is a vital body within the diocese.
At that time, Hiltz inaugurated the Mothers’ Union Rehabilitation and Training Centre, also funded by PWRDF. The primate speaks of Francine as a woman of great courage and deep faith who sings in the Mother’s Union choir at the cathedral in Bujumbura. “The women in the Mother’s Union choir received and cared for Francine when she was in a desperate state,” says Hiltz, adding that the Mother’s Union cares for single women, single mothers, the sick, the elderly and widows. “As one young mother with a two-year old child said in a gathering at the Mother’s Centre, ‘Without you, we would not be alive,’ ” recalls Hiltz.
Women’s rights figure prominently in PWRDF’s priorities through programs in Africa, Asia, Latin American and Caribbean, and in Indigenous communities in Canada.
Some examples of women’s rights programs funded by PWRDF:
- Women, Family and Youth program of Burundian Council of Churches
- Violence Against Women Program and Men’s Circle of Support Program run by Temba Community Development Services in South Africa
- Gender Learning Program to Nampula NGOs in Mozambique
- Ekota Women’s Empowerment program of Church of Bangladesh that addresses women’s empowerment issues in Bangladesh.
- UBINIG’s Feminist Publication House in Bangladesh advocating for women’s rights and to end violence against women.
- Cordillera People’s Alliance (CPA) – in Philippines
- Farmers Development Corporation (FARDEC) in the Philippines is working with women farmers and indigenous populations for their socio-economic and cultural rights and empowerment.
- Women’s Human Rights Centre in Chihuahua, Mexico.
- The Ecumenical Women’s Network in Guatemala; and Project Counseling Services in Peru
To donate to PWRDF-supported programs that address gender-based injustices, please go to www.pwrdf.org or call our toll-free line: 1-866-308-7973.
More Information
Anglican Journal Article,
“I want to tell you why I lost my arms”
Anglican Journal Burundi Photo Diaries