Fight For Dignity : sport as a tool for rehabilitation

An initiative by Laurence Fischer

Laurence Fischer, the 3-time World karate champion, founded Fight For Dignity in 2017. The organisation aids women victims of violence by using sport to place the human body at the centre of the resilience-building and rehabilitation process. Fischer was appointed Ambassador for Sport by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs in 2019.

Established in 2017, Fight For Dignity is a French association that uses sport to place the human body at the centre of the resilience-building process. Associated with both theoretical (medical and psychological) and practical research, this approach allows women victims of violence to rebuild their lives and rediscover their self-confidence.

Context

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been plagued by war for over 20 years, resulting in mass human rights violations, especially against women and girls. A 2014 report by Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) found that, in some parts of Kivu region, nearly three out of four women had been raped.

After an initial experience in Afghanistan, Fight For Dignity began working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with the support of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr Denis Mukwege, better known as “the man who mends women”. Fight For Dignity (FFD) supports and trains teachers and other beneficiaries at Maison Dorcas – part of Dr Mukwege’s Panzi Foundation – using a karate programme that is tailored to the physical, mental and social circumstances of women survivors of sexual violence. The programme has also been implemented at the Maison des Femmes (Women’s Home) in Saint-Denis, France.

Goals

Promote the use of sport, and karate in particular, as a tool for resilience-building and rehabilitation
Develop the FFD method in conjunction with doctors and researchers, and train coaches
Ensure the long-term future of the project in the DRC and develop the model in Africa and around the world
Duplicate the FFD method in other French cities

Activities

Implementing the programme in the DRC and France
Providing social and medical support (care, counselling, etc.)
Introducing the practice of karate through special sessions

The inside story of Fight For Dignity’s work in the DRC

(Source : Institut Français in the DRC)

Impacts

Physical and psychological rehabilitation for women victims of domestic violence, female genital mutilation, rape, assault, forced marriage or prostitution
Women trained in karate and supported by FFD at the Panzi Foundation in the DRC
Women trained in karate and supported by FFD at the Maison des Femmes in Saint-Denis, France

Funding

Cost of current project: €150,000, of which 42% (€63,000) is for the continuation of the project at the Panzi Foundation in the DRC
Amount already funded: €90,000 from partners and sponsors (as of 16 April 2019)
Fundraising on the Ulule crowdfunding platform: raised €18,425, exceeding an original funding goal of €15,000 (raised 122% of target)

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