The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative today announced the second round of participatory grants allocated by 2024 Aurora Prize Laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege. Dr. Mukwege, world-renowned gynecological surgeon and human rights activist from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has selected impactful projects in Africa and Colombia for increased support. As the DRC battles an Ebola outbreak, the funds will strengthen overall humanitarian response throughout the region, including a grant to the Moseka Action Project in South Kivu Province. With Aurora’s support, Moseka is launching a new initiative that helps respond to the Ebola crisis through women’s empowerment, economic resilience, and community education. 

This local, grassroots financing support shows how targeted grants can strengthen community awareness strategies, helping families protect their households while building trust between communities and health responders. 

“Choosing these grantees is an act of trust and responsibility,” said Dr. Denis Mukwege, 2024 Aurora Prize Laureate and President of Panzi Hospital and Foundation in the DRC. “Each of these individuals and organizations is responding to suffering with courage, dignity, and practical solutions rooted in the deep understanding of the needs of their community. By sharing the Aurora Prize with them, I am helping sustain work that protects children, supports women, strengthens families, and gives survivors of violence and displacement a path toward healing and hope.”  

The $1M Aurora Prize is awarded as a participatory grant, with the Laureate receiving a portion directly and reallocating most of the funds to other deserving humanitarians. The other Prize finalists receive $50,000 each in recognition of their outstanding achievements.  

This round will advance locally led work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Malawi, Burkina Faso, and Colombia, funding school meals, safer learning environments, healthcare, psychosocial and legal services, livelihood training, and protection for women and children. Several grants build on the first cycle, reflecting Aurora’s commitment to sustainable support for grassroots humanitarians and the communities they serve.  

Dr. Mukwege has designated funding to the full list of beneficiary organizations and individuals below: 

• Association Pieuse de la Bienheureuse ANUARITE de Compassion (DRC), led by Aurora humanitarian Sister Angélique Namaika and providing housing, meals, schooling, healthcare, and safer facilities for orphaned children and vulnerable families in Haut-Uélé Province  

• CEPAC-Nacibundu Primary School (DRC), helping complete its building in Kasheke village, South Kivu Province 

• Elman Peace Centre (Somalia), led by 2020 Aurora Prize Laureates Fartuun Adan and Ilwad Elman, providing daily breakfast and lunch for young children at Elman Primary School in Mogadishu 

• Interface Compassion Internationale (DRC), delivering food, hygiene kits, basic medical care, and psychosocial support to women and children affected by conflict in Kalehe, South Kivu Province 

• Moseka Action Project (DRC), helping women in South Kivu earn income through training and small businesses in soap-making, baking, and community agriculture 

• Girls Arise for Change (Malawi), led by Aurora humanitarian Virginia Khunguni and creating a safe empowerment hub where adolescent girls and young women in Dzaleka Refugee Camp can learn tailoring and handcraft skills 

• Yennenga Progress (Burkina Faso), providing medical care, psychological support, and preventive health services at the Dr. Denis Mukwege Center in Nakamtenga, Ziniaré 

• Women Sowing Life Association (Colombia), led by Aurora humanitarian Yirley Velasco and helping women and young people in El Salado learn about their rights, access psychosocial and legal support, and strengthen protection from gender-based violence.

“Dr. Mukwege’s work has long shown the world what it means to turn moral courage into comprehensive care,” said Alexey Medvedev, Aurora Prize Secretariat. “During this time of crisis, his second round of grants reflects that same spirit and illustrates that the Aurora Prize creates an effective pathway for exceptional humanitarians to support other local leaders, deepen work that communities already rely on, and help flexible funding reach the people closest to their needs.” 

At a time when humanitarian funding is increasingly uncertain, Aurora’s participatory grant model offers a practical example of direct, trust-based support that changes lives where it’s needed most. It also demonstrates the outsized impact a small grant can make when directed to local humanitarians who are already in place, with deep community ties. 

“The Moseka initiative was launched at a very difficult time for our people, as our community is currently facing an Ebola outbreak. It has created an opportunity to raise awareness about Ebola and reinforce important hygiene practices that women can adopt to protect themselves and their families. We look forward to seeing how this project unfolds and the impact it will have on their lives and communities,” said Bijou Mushengezi, representative of the Moseka Project supported by Aurora and Dr. Mukwege. 

Photo: Community members supported by the Moseka Action Project in South Kivu Province, DRC, 2026. Photo courtesy of the Moseka Action Project.