A Thousand Sisters

"It was there that I learned about Congo, widely called the worst place on earth to be a woman. Awakened to the atrocities—millions dead, women being raped and tortured, children starving and dying in shocking numbers—I had to do something". Lisa Shannon

Lisa Shannon founded the first national grassroots effort to raise awareness and funds for women in the DR Congo through her project Run for Congo Women. They have sponsored more than a thousand war-affected Congolese women through Women for Women International. These women are raising more than 5000 children. She traveled solo into Eastern Congo’s South Kivu province for five and half weeks in January- February 2007, and again in May 2008. Prior to Lisa’s travels through Congo, was named a “2006 Hero of Running” by Runner’s World Magazine and O, The Oprah Magazine wrote, “Lisa Shannon read our report—and started a movement.” Lisa presently serves as an ambassador for Women for Women International.

To read more, please visit the website @ http://athousandsisters.com/
To listen to Lisa Shannon's interview on NPR, please go to http://www.onpointradio.org/2010/08/helping-women-in-congo