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Women and War  
(21 images)

  • N. Uganda, Kitgum District. Peter C. Alderman Foundation project. This woman has 5 children. She put up with years of abuse by her alcoholic husband and when he took a new younger wife she tried committing suicide with malaria medication. The quinine ended up killing her fetus as she was pregnant. Now she is forced to live back in her parents compound and is banned from seeing her children who are now in the care of her husband. She waits in limbo to see if she will be prosecuted and has no idea what is ahead for her. She suffers from severe depression. PCAF social worker Jean Laker meets with her periodically.
    N. Uganda, Kitgum District. Peter C. Alderman Foundation project. This...
  • Africa, N. Uganda, Kitgum District. Dorothy confides to a counselor the challenges of losing her family and living alone since the war. Jean, a PCAF (Peter C. Alderman Foundation) social worker, listens to her patient as Dorothy, 52, describes the challenges & loneliness of losing most of her family during the war. Dorothy suffers from epilepsy and was badly burned when having a seizure and falling into her kitchen fire, burning her face and fusing her fingers. She is now afraid to be on her own and complains that her children rarely visit. She relies on her neighbor to help get her food and obtain her medication from the clinic. She is severely depressed and suicidal.
    Africa, N. Uganda, Kitgum District. Dorothy confides to a counselor the...
  • Africa, N. Uganda, Gulu District. Christine meets with mental health counselors at the local clinic. A visiting PCAF psychiatrist (Peter C. Alderman Foundation) & a PCAF nurse, perform a psychiatric assessment and counseling at the rural local mental health rural clinic in Gulu. Christine lost her arm during the war and struggles with depression due to her circumstances. She has no husband but a young son helps her at home. Christine walks many miles to come to the rural clinic where she gets periodic counseling & treatment from a PCAF nurse and social worker. PCAF is a small NGO that focuses on the psychological affects of PTSD on those affected by war in Uganda.
    Africa, N. Uganda, Gulu District. Christine meets with mental health...
  • Africa, N. Uganda, Kitgum. . Northern Uganda is an area of the country that has experienced twenty years of war with one of the most brutal rebel groups on earth. Minors made up almost 90% of the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) as children, both girls and boys, were seized from their families and forced to work as laborers, child soldiers, or sex slaves. PCAF is a small NGO that focuses on the psychological affects of PTSD on those affected by war in Uganda, with much of their work focused on aiding child soldiers. These young men, now in their late teens, have lived through unspeakable horrors of abuse and violence since their abduction as children. Many witnessed most of their family members killed. They now struggle to assimilate back into the community suffering PTSD & depression, alcohol & drug abuse. A PCAF social worker visits with them for individual counseling and group therapy in their community.
    Africa, N. Uganda, Kitgum. . Northern Uganda is an area of the country...
  • Africa, N. Uganda, Kitgum District. Women--wives, mothers, sisters, girlfriends-- meet as part of group therapy at the Namokana Outreach Center in Kitgum to discuss their problems and concerns. A major topic of discussion is how to handle the domestic abuse and overuse of alcohol and drugs by their husbands and grown children due to PTSD and mental distress. Meeting with a counselor led group seems to have become a reliable source of help for many of them.
    Africa, N. Uganda, Kitgum District. Women--wives, mothers, sisters,...
  • N. Uganda, Gwendiya, Gulu District. Many of the men try to evade their nightmares with alcohol and women suffer the effects. When I first accompanied one of the few local social workers to visit Patrick in his thatched house in Gulu, Uganda, he was in a drunken stupor at midday. Patrick was quick to break down in tears as he described his favorite brother that had been killed by rebels, the other who had committed suicide and the hardships he endured when he was taken into captivity. He first showed us photos of his brothers and then others with his wife, in the happier days before he became a broken man. He told us he needs to drink to get through his day and even more to sleep at night. Even though he still lives with his first wife he has taken a second younger wife, which is common in this area. This usually causes jealousy and tension in the house but more recently the two women have banded together. When Patrick gets drunk he threatens to kill them. The women told us they now hide the machetes in their thatched roof.
    N. Uganda, Gwendiya, Gulu District. Many of the men try to evade their...
  • Africa, N. Uganda, Kitgum. Northern Uganda is an area of the country that has experienced twenty years of war with one of the most brutal rebel groups on earth. Minors made up almost 90% of the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) as children, both girls and boys, were seized from their families and forced to work as laborers, child soldiers, or sex slaves. The young men of Kitgum, now in their late teens, have lived through unspeakable horrors of abuse and violence since their abduction as children. Many now suffer from PTSD, depression and alcohol & drug abuse as they struggle to assimilate back into their community, especially affecting their wives with domestic abuse issues. Gabriel, a former child soldier, now proudly runs his own bakery and attends periodic group therapy sessions.
    Africa, N. Uganda, Kitgum. Northern Uganda is an area of the country...
  • Gulu, Uganda, Africa. “David,” 16, is brought to the local mental hospital by his mother & father for an initial psychiatric evaluation for his violent outbursts. With so few resources to address mental health in developing countries the care usually falls to the family members and the process can often be overwhelming.
    Gulu, Uganda, Africa. “David,” 16, is brought to the local mental...
  • N. Uganda, Gulu District, Africa. Mentally distressed patients are evaluated through an initial clinical psychiatric process. This assessment determines if they are affected by PTSD or mentally suffering from war related issues. Some patients, especially children suffer from other mental health issues, such as psychosis, epilepsy or other illnesses that may be treated through the local mental health hospital.
    N. Uganda, Gulu District, Africa. Mentally distressed patients are...
  • Africa, N. Uganda, Gulu. A mentally distressed man struggles as he’s brought to the Gulu mental health clinic to be assessed. With so few resources to address mental health in Uganda the care usually falls to the family members. This man was brought to the local mental health clinic by his wife and brother to be evaluated and, as is often the case, he was so violent that he had to be sedated.
    Africa, N. Uganda, Gulu. A mentally distressed man struggles as he’s...
  • Africa, N. Uganda, Gulu. With so few resources to address mental health in developing countries the care usually falls to the family members. The process is often traumatic and frightening for caretakers when they have to bring their distressed loved ones in to be evaluated by a healthcare professional. This man was brought to the local mental health clinic by his wife and brother to be evaluated and was so violent that he had to be sedated. His wife holds the ropes that were used to restrain him and weeps from the sheer exhaustion of the experience.
    Africa, N. Uganda, Gulu. With so few resources to address mental health...
  • Africa, Rwanda, Kiyumba, Muhango District. The 1994 genocide has had a lasting and profound impact on Rwanda. It is estimated that nearly one million Rwandans were killed during this 100-day period everyone in the country has been affected. Many women who lost families struggle to reclaim their lives and a sense of financial stability. Agriculture has been a resource for women in the work force. Here women are working on an agricultural co-op farm, growing vegetables they will sell in the local market.
    Africa, Rwanda, Kiyumba, Muhango District. The 1994 genocide has had a...
  • Africa, Rwanda, Kayonza. The 1994 genocide has had a lasting and profound impact on Rwanda. It is estimated that nearly one million Rwandans were killed during this 100-day period, everyone in the country has been affected. Many women who lost families struggle to reclaim their lives and a sense of financial stability. In a Women for Women sponsored project these women are making bricks by hand and earn a penny a brick.
    Africa, Rwanda, Kayonza. The 1994 genocide has had a lasting and...
  • Africa, S. Sudan, Juba<br /> South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011 and many still live in what seems to be temporary housing. It’s a dry sparse land with little ability for rural agriculture. Mary Sebit (28) is a goat herder. The non-governmental organization, BRAC, gave her mature goats that have now produced young goats. She has five children and she'll sell one goat a year for about $125 to send each of her kids to school. Her husband works as a policeman. She is here with her mother (50) who is ill and lives with them.
    Africa, S. Sudan, Juba South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in...
  • Africa, S.Sudan, Juba<br /> South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011 and many still live in what seems to be temporary housing. It’s a dry sparse land with little ability for rural agriculture. Abau Flora (26), works at tailoring from home with a BRAC sponsored sewing machine so she can stay at home and also watch her children. Abau makes about $80 per month to supplement the income that her husband makes as a day laborer.
    Africa, S.Sudan, Juba South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in...
  • Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, S. Kivu, Katana. <br /> By 2008 the Second Congo War and its aftermath had killed more than 5.4 million people, making it the deadliest in African history. Millions more were displaced from their homes, and the country still is challenged by rebel infiltration. A woman is raped every minute in the Congo. Organizations like Women for Women create income-generating projects like basket weaving to help create financial stability and a sense of community for the women. Each basket takes about two hours to make and they sell them in the local market.
    Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, S. Kivu, Katana. By 2008 the...
  • Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, S. Kivu, Katana. <br /> By 2008 the Second Congo War and its aftermath had killed more than 5.4 million people, making it the deadliest in African history. Millions more were displaced from their homes, and the country still is challenged by rebel infiltration. A woman is raped every minute in the Congo. Organizations like Women for Women produce life-skills training to help women enter the work force and to create a safe sense of community them to overcome some of the horrors they have experienced. Here, Faida Rutakangwa (34) teaches numeracy and literacy to local women.
    Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, S. Kivu, Katana. By 2008 the...
  • Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, S. Kivu, Katana. <br /> By 2008 the Second Congo War and its aftermath had killed more than 5.4 million people, making it the deadliest in African history. Millions more were displaced from their homes, and the country still is challenged by rebel infiltration. A woman is raped every minute in the Congo. Organizations like Women for Women produce life-skills training to help women enter the work force and to create a safe sense of community them to overcome some of the horrors they have experienced. Here, Faida Rutakangwa (34) teaches numeracy and literacy to local women.
    Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, S. Kivu, Katana. By 2008 the...
  • Africa, DRC, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Kivu, Kamanyola. By 2008 the Second Congo War and its aftermath had killed more than 5.4 million people, making it the deadliest in African history. Millions more were displaced from their homes, and the country still is challenged by rebel infiltration. A woman is raped every minute in the Congo. Organizations like Women for Women produce life-skills training to help women enter the work force and to create a safe sense of community them to overcome some of the horrors they have experienced. Women are dancing in greeting and showing the Belgium waffles that they have learned to make from soy milk and flour.
    Africa, DRC, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Kivu, Kamanyola. By...
  • Afghanistan, Bamiyan. A woman in her bedroom holds a photo of her slain husband. Since her husbands death she is forced to live with her sister’s husband. Women who had once been doctors, lawyers and professionals in this country are now beaten by their husbands for a violation as menial as showing an inch of skin on their wrists. I was impressed with the resiliency of Afghan women who were so determined to take reclaim their lives. Many secretly meet in backroom classes learning to read so they know if they’re buying a box of milk or cement from the local store, or how to handle money so they can count change from a taxi ride. Rarely will you ever see a woman driving a car. Others learn vocational skills such as weaving, sewing and computer work. In Kabul, I attended a judo class for young girls. In Bamiyan, where there is even a female governor, I met a small contingency of women police officers, as they practiced shooting their AK-47s and hand guns at the rifle range. Education, women have come to realize, is a major step of empowerment that no one can take away from them.
    Afghanistan, Bamiyan. A woman in her bedroom holds a photo of her slain...
  • Nicaragua, Masaya. The war against the Sandinista government carried out many human rights violations as well causing economic strife for much of the country. Luz Eitan, 60, has been making these masks for 33 years and continues to do so since her husband passed away (in the drawing). She makes about 300 masks a year by hand, and earns about $50 a month selling then in the local market. Years ago these traditional Indian masks were adopted by the rebels during the fight against Somoza to conceal identity, but are now used in festivals.
    Nicaragua, Masaya. The war against the Sandinista government carried out...
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