Tracy's Heart Foundation, in initials "T H F", is an organization (Foundation) from DR Congo.

It was created in 2008 in Bukavu, Province of South - Kivu in the Eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo. (DRC), initially under the denomination of Tracy's Heart Center thereafter, this organization from Congo will be called "Tracy’s Heart Foundation" in initials "THF.

In DRC, its headquarters is located in Bukavu, at Athénée, No 74, and municipality of Ibanda in South-Kivu Province.

It was created following the multiple sufferings which came to the Congolese population in South-Kivu Province especially the rape of women, the difficulties destitute and desperate women have in taking care of their families/household, the use of women in certain places of south-kivu province in particular and the DRC in general, to work the gold mines. The women agree to this work in order to survive but it exposes them to the risk of diseases. The families experience difficulties in taking care of their children some of which work in the mines too. This program was also created to help the young girl prostitutes ( sex workers) and to fight all kinds of discriminations and abuses committed upon the women, girls and children since the advent of various wars known in this province of the DRC.

It was because of love and compassion towards these thousands of women, girls and vulnerable children subjected to multiple sufferings that this organization "Tracy's Heart Foundation" was created thanks to the efforts of BRENDA BUELL

1. HISTORY

Brenda Buell

Founder

Brenda Buell began returning to DR Congo in 2005 with her late husband, Ed Buell. Together they began the Tracy's Heart Program that Brenda continues to run today.

2. VISION

Vision:"Together for the empowerment and self sufficiency of women”

To reduce the vulnerability of women and other vulnerable people,
To ensure the self sufficiency of women and other vulnerable people in various domains of life,
To fight against all forms of discrimination (tribalism, cultural…) and violence based on gender as well as the protection of the rights of all marginalized people.

3. MISSION

To ensure food security for vulnerable populations by encouraging the production and conservation of agricultural and fish farm products for consumption and marketing,
To set up programs for educating, training and preparing women, girls, orphan children, former child-soldiers, street children, and handicapped children in income generating activities to facilitate their reintegration in society,
To set up centers of illiteracy elimination, information, training and preparation of women in various trades; training in trades in order to reduce illiteracy.

To facilitate the access of vulnerable people to quality health care by guaranteeing medical and psychological care, teaching them how to fight against sexually transmitted diseases, and by the installation of health programs that train people in reproduction safety and family planning, and sanitation of living areas.
To sensitize and train the populations on the management and protection of natural resources through programs of reforestation and other forms of farming. Also by training in the manufacture and use of improved clay stoves as well as the secured land problems.
To ensure the psychosocial, medical, legal and economic accompaniment of vulnerable women, girls and other children.

4. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

5. FIELDS OF INTERVENTION

1. Food Security

2. Community health

3. Environment and durable development

4. Gender promotion: to fight violence based on gender and promote human rights in general

and those of women and children in particular

5. Training in handicrafts and income generating activities and the offering of needed supplies

6. Illiteracy elimination

6. STRUCTURE

ORGAN: TWO BODIES

1. Founder, equipped :

- Power and/or signatory of the act of assignment of the goods having led to the creation

of the foundation

- Power to appoint the first 5 administrators of the

foundation and,

- Power to mobilize the funds to finance the

activities of the foundation

2. A board of directors: It is composed of :

- Director

- Secretary

- Treasurer

- 2 advisors

7. OPERATING FIELD

DRC in general and particularly the South Kivu Province as a pilot field

8. RECIPIENTS

Vulnerable women: women who are heads of the households and live under conditions of extreme poverty; as well as women rape survivors.

Girls: girls who have given birth before marriage, school girls who are not in school and are not attended. Abandoned girls from the destitute households/indigents,

Children: orphan children, street children, former child soldiers, handicapped children, children from destitute /indigent families.