Providing health care to 1000s in Bujumbura slum

“When I was newly married my husband used to bring women into our house. He told me to prepare them something to eat and I did it because of the fear of being beaten. I was told that the wife must bear all the evil that her husband does and I chose to endure and to be quite but I was dying inside me.

Imagine, I worked alone the whole day, and in the evening I had to prepare something to feed my husband and his girlfriend. Besides that, we slept on the same bed. I endured that too.

One day he brought a very beautiful woman and told me to prepare another room for them. I did it but it destroyed me in my heart.

He married new wives four times in our house.  Once, I was at the end of my strength and I appealed to justice so that at least he builds another house for his second woman. He built the house, but He increased the punishments for me and I suffered very much.

I remember that for the fourth wife I accompanied him when he was dating. I told to myself that by doing this I could have peace in my house but in vain.

When my husband died I didn't feel anything, but I felt the burden gone because I had endured too much.

Due to this training, I heard that I am a victim because I see many signs of trauma in my life

It was an opportunity to go back and grieve; I made some decisions for my well-being.”

• FWA_September_2023_Narrative_Report_Website.doc (DOC)

“I am that woman victim of GBV who wanted and planned to kill my husband. I wasn't lying because I had already tried it for my first husband; it was even said on the radio: I threw hot water on his body and I fled to the DRC country.  I spent 2 years there. They searched me in vain.

This training had a powerful impact in my life. I no longer recognize myself. It was hard to say that I was planning to kill my husband in front of the participants but it freed me. I felt light; little by little I felt the anxiety decreasing.

In front of a painful situation I am surprised to see myself calm and having a sleep. I said to my soul “be calm”; I leaned to talk with my soul. I am surprised that I forgive easily and that bad thoughts are gone.

I won't know how to say thank you because it's a miracle for me I was a Christian but I could not change. I tried to change, I used to give prayer requests but no change happened.  The force of evil was too strong than me. Now I face every difficult situation with joy and hope.”

“This training helped me a lot. In the training I told you that I reached a stage of walking without knowing where I was going and that I was thinking about burning the houses of my community to have peace in my heart but now if you watch me you can see the change without saying anything. Before the HROC workshop, I could not wash myself and wash the clothes you saw it yourself. Now you can see that I am clean.

I didn't know what a sleep was but today it's very difficult for me to wake up. I was always worried and I didn't know peace of heart but now I have peace.

I hated my children I beat them seriously so that I can be imprisoned. I wanted to be imprisoned because I was hated by my husband until I hated myself.

Sincerely I tell you thank you, I had the courage to build a small house where I and my children will live. This will help me to reduce the stress of paying the rent each month.”

• FWA_August_2023_Narrative_Report_Website.doc (DOC)