Africa, DRC, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Kivu, Makabola. Statistics show that a woman is raped every minute in the Congo. These atrocious attacks are considered an on-going ìweapon of warî committed by rebels and even local police and militants. The women and young girls in these areas find themselves most vulnerable when simply performing the necessary but isolating chore of gathering wood and water in the forest for their families. Often they become impregnated and...
more »Africa, DRC, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Kivu, Makabola. Statistics show that a woman is raped every minute in the Congo. These atrocious attacks are considered an on-going ìweapon of warî committed by rebels and even local police and militants. The women and young girls in these areas find themselves most vulnerable when simply performing the necessary but isolating chore of gathering wood and water in the forest for their families. Often they become impregnated and are then abandoned by their husbands and family.
Ishimalanga Nabugamba suffered physical abuse, lost most of her family members and all her property during the war. Women for Women International has helped train thousands of women in work skills programs to help regain their dignity through financial stability and a sense of community with micro-loans and the merry-go-round program where women pool their money together and take turns receiving the pot at the end of the month.
Ishimalanga, shown here with her fishing boat on Lake Tanganyika where she learned to fish, bought a large fishing net with her proceeds. She hopes she can pass this skill on to her children. Through the help she received through Women for Women International she feels that she now has a sense of purpose and hope in her life.
« less
