WorldShare congratulates Lyn Lusi (co-founder of HEAL Africa in D.R. Congo) for the award of the 2011 Opus Prize. The prize is given annually by the Opus Foundation, to recognize unsung heroes of any faith tradition, anywhere in the world, solving today’s most persistent social problems. The prize was awarded at a ceremony on the Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles on November 2nd.
This humanitarian award is one of the world’s largest faith-based, humanitarian prizes for social innovation. Opus Prize winners combine an entrepreneurial spirit with an abiding faith to combat seemingly intractable global issues like poverty, illiteracy, hunger, disease, and injustice.
Opus Prize winners demonstrate that change is possible, empowering and inspiring all of us.
Lyn Lusi and her husband Dr. Kasereka (Jo) Lusi founded HEAL Africa together in 2000. HEAL Africa is a Congolese-led organization in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, working to eradicate poor health, poverty and the oppression of women.
HEAL Africa works tirelessly to transform individuals and communities shattered by the atrocities and gender violence from the war that has been raging for more than 15 years. Lyn and her husband, Dr. Jo Lusi founded what is now known as HEAL Africa in 2000, though they began to work in a small clinic in Goma in 1996.
HEAL Africa has performed more than 1,500 post-rape fistula repair surgeries, provided primary care and counseling to almost 40,000 women, established 31 Safe Houses, trained over 90,000 community activists in HIV/AIDS prevention and care, and funded more than 1,500 micro grants for families.
HEAL Africa’s medical, social and economic initiatives cultivate peace and development and are grounded in faith, both Lyn’s personal faith and that of the communities with which HEAL Africa works. Lyn Lusi’s belief that each person is created in God’s image has informed her work. The work of HEAL Africa has been to provide training and encouragement for leaders and villagers, based on the belief that lasting change cannot be imposed but comes from within communities themselves.
It has been WorldShare's privilege to partner with and support the work of HEAL Africa for a number of years, and we join with many others in warmly congratulating Lyn on her receiving of this prestigious award.
To view a slideshow of HEAL Africa in Goma, click here .
The Opus Prize Foundation
The Opus Prize Foundation is a private, philanthropic organization. The foundation honors individuals and their organizations that are largely unsung while providing exceptional and unique responses to difficult social problems such as poverty, illiteracy, hunger, disease and injustice in the world’s poorest communities. Beyond supporting the humanitarian efforts, the Opus Prize also seeks to inspire people to pursue service to others. The goal is to provide funds that advance the winner’s work to a new level of impact, provide greater visibility and attract other supporters.
To read the Opus web page detailing Lyn Lusi's award, click here (opens new window; WorldShare is not responsible for the content of external websites).
