Turning Pain Into Power This week we watched women survivors telling their truth, standing up to power, moving from victims to survivors to leaders. The women at City of Joy in the DR Congo are in solidarity with survivors all over the world every day turning pain into power. We…
Read MoreOn 21 June, 89 women of the 13th class were honored as they celebrated their completion of a 6-month healing and leadership program at City of Joy. These women have been honored for their courage for overcoming their pain, and for their resilience and determination. These women have gone to…
Read MoreThe City of Joy’s 11th Class Graduates: 89 Women Join 849 Others By Christine Schuler Deschryver City of Joy and V-Day Congo Director Since January 18th, City of Joy sheltered 89 women who have survived some of the harshest stories in the world. These women came from many villages of…
Read MoreOn 20 November, City of Joy graduated its sixth class of 90 girls and women, bringing the total number of City of Joy Graduates to 492. In this new blog from Congo, our beloved V-Day Congo Director/Director of City of Joy Christine Schuler Deschryver brings us into the world of…
Read MoreDECLARATION DES V-MEN CONGO à l’occasion du lancement de leur Mouvement à BUKAVU, ce 07 Mars 2014 au RESTAURANT BODEGA Nous, Membres du cadre de réflexion constitué en V- Men Congo, soucieux des injustices dont les femmes sont l’objet, Face aux cris des cris des femmes « où sont les hommes ?»,…
Read MoreLokua Kanza, artiste musicien congolais Radio Okapi, a regional radio station in the DRC interviews congolese musician Pascal Lokua Kanza about his return to his hometown of Bukavu after a five year leave for his participation in this years One Billion Rising…
Read MoreFor over 15 years, rape has been used in D.R Congo as the main war tool, humiliating hundred thousands of women, and destroying Congolese society. Congo has been named rape capital of the world. It is heartbreaking to belong to such a country, but it is possible to make a…
Read MoreWHY AM I RISING FOR JUSTICE My name is Jane Mukuninwa. I was born in the village of Lulingu, in Shabunda, D.R.Congo. This village until now is one of the worst places for women to live. I was physically and psychologically destroyed by multiple rapes. I was driven half-dead to Panzi…
Read MoreThe author of this blog, Jessica Neuwirth, served as Coordinator of the UN High-Level Panel on Remedies and Reparations for Victims of Sexual Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This panel travelled across the Democratic Republic of Congo from 27 September to 13 October 2010, meeting with 61 survivors of…
Read MoreBUKAVU, AUGUST 2013 The red dust swallows everything, coats the roofs and goats and faces of dazed children who lean out on Essence Road. The dust which begs for water where there is no water, for shelter where there are no windows or doors. The dust that is spread in…
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