Mutombo has always been involved in humanitarian work, particularly through the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation. He has been involved with CNN Heroes since 2007, when he served on the Blue Ribbon Panel that selects the top Heroes of the year.
Mutombo recently sat down with CNN producer Allison Blakely to talk about Heroes and his philanthropy. Below are excerpts from that interview.
Allison Blakely: What was your inspiration for starting the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation?
Dikembe Mutombo: After traveling so much in Africa, doing some work for different organizations, we [had] witnessed so much suffering and pain. The Democratic Republic of Congo [has suffered] more than 10 years of civil unrest, where more than 5.3 million people have died. People have [called it] the World War III of Africa. (shakes his head) People are left with nothing. I decided to create the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation to change the living condition of my people in Africa.
Blakely: You originally intended to be a doctor. Now you’ve built a hospital in your homeland. Tell me about it.
Mutombo: [It] was my [hope] in building a hospital to let people know that things can be much better in the future. … The Old Testament says, “People perish because of lack of education,” and that’s what we are trying to do. It’s through education we will reduce the mortality rate: telling those moms how they can keep their babies away from mosquitoes, how they can get their baby vaccinated and deliver the baby in better circumstances.
Blakely: What is a hero to you, and what do you think inspires some of these people?
Mutombo: A hero is someone who inspires you with their voice or with their acts or with their hands. That’s a hero.
Blakely: You were on the CNN Heroes Blue Ribbon Panel back in 2007. What was that like?
Mutombo: I think it’s great. I [would] encourage more people who have the strength and the courage and the love and the commitment of going out and making a difference to go and try. … You can’t just live in a society where you think, “I don’t have anything to contribute.” It’s all about the gift that you have. … You can inspire so many people.
Blakely: You went out to the “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute” last year, right? How was that?
Mutombo: I was just walking down the red carpet, able to meet Anderson Cooper and everybody who came from the different parts of the world, celebrating our work and our contribution to this world. It was amazing.
Blakely: So, you’ve met some of the CNN Heroes. How have you been inspired by them?
Mutombo: Oh, inspired a lot. To see some of the people — how they have gone on with no money, with no mean[s] — there’s a lot of people out there who are contributing. We all have some obligation to fulfill something in this world we’re living in. It doesn’t matter how long your life [is]. It is about your contribution, how much difference you’re making. That’s what those people are doing. I thank them, and I compliment them, and I salute them for their effort.
Source: CNN