Healing Begins in Congo
More than ten years of civil war made the Democratic Republic of Congo one of the poorest and most dangerous countries in the work. Conflict started in the West African country in 1994, when Hutu soldiers sought sanctuary in the Congo after their involvement in the Rwandan genocide.
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ActionAid came to the Democratic Republic of Congo when the troubles began. Our work focused on meeting immediate needs of poor people caught in the throes of conflict while pushing for peace. Violence persists throughout the country, in spite of the 2002 peace agreement. ActionAid continues to work toward peace and our work to make life better for people in the Congo. While success will not come overnight, we see progress every day.
Honorene is ten years old. Sitting on the floor of a small shelter for abused women in the northeastern town of Goma, she explains how she has ended up here.
“I was visiting my aunt when fighting broke out. Soldiers broke into her house, waving their guns,” she says. “I ran outside and hid but a soldier – he came and found me. And then he raped me and then another one came and he did the same. I was really scared. After they left I couldn’t find my aunt...” Her voice trails off as she searches for the strength to continue.
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“I heard about this place in Goma where a woman would help me, so I went to the port and begged a place on a boat to come and find her,” Honorene explains. “The woman at the center took me for treatment but I wasn’t tested for HIV because the test was too expensive and we needed to buy food for other people living in this house.”
The house Honorene is referring to is a shelter run by ActionAid partner Maode (Mothers’ Organization for Development), a simple place that consists of five small wooden huts, each housing up to 12 women and their children. More than 130 orphans live at the shelter as well. “I didn’t think things would ever get much better. I thought the war would always find me,” Honorene says quietly. “But I feel safer now that I am in this house.”
Another ActionAid partner, the Anti-AIDS Volunteers’ Team (EVAS) provides help and counseling for people living with HIV. “We have provided Stepping Stones training (ActionAid’s HIV education program) to their counselors and also help them provide food to people who are too sick to look after themselves,” says Edward Kakande.
No one knows how widespread HIV or AIDS are in the Congo. The World Health Organization, however, estimates that at least 54% of women admitted to Bukavu’s general hospital are HIV-positive.
Feza Mbutire has been part of the EVAS association for nearly two years. Attacked and raped by rebel soldiers one day on her way to market, she and her four children were rejected by her husband when he found out she had contracted HIV.
“When I think of my disease I also think of fear,” she says. “I am not ashamed of it because it was not my fault, but I also know that I will die. I am so worried for my children that once I am gone they will have nobody and no care – nothing. But at least now I know the group will try and look after them,” she adds, gesturing around her. “It is a good place for me to come and talk about my illness and this can make it less lonely.”
“Now here at the centre they help me with food for my children,” she explains. “I don’t feel so hopeless anymore. Things are getting better.”
