Celebrating International Women’s Day in Goma
Email from Judy Anderson of Act for Congo
Date: Tue, Mar 12, 2019 at 7:19 AM
Copyright © 2019 ACT for Congo, All rights reserved.
Greetings from Goma, where we celebrated International Women’s Day at HOLD (Humanitarian Organization for Lasting Development).
The students spent the morning in class, but the festivities began at 11. They began with a drama about marriage, relationships, and a mother’s influence in a king’s household. There was a series of traditional tribal dances. Then we were treated to a fashion show the featured styles created by Kitenge Fashion, the tailoring shop at HOLD. Paris has nothing on these women when it comes to being chic.
This was all done by students at HOLD.
Then a woman who graduated two years ago spoke. The room changed as she took over the stage. Everyone was spellbound as she told her story. She’d been a good girl. She went to church, prayed, was happy in her family. Then she was forcibly abducted by masked men, beaten and raped for 3 hours 6 years ago. When she found out she was pregnant, she didn’t want her child although she was forced to give birth and care for him. She spoke about how, for a year and a half, she still didn’t want him, even though people had shown love to her.
Then she came to HOLD, and somewhere during her time in the program, she learned to love him.
She’s now working at a restaurant in Goma, and has a fiancé who came with her on Friday. She loves her son fiercely. She spoke articulately — she was mesmerizing. She’s paying her own rent and taking care of herself. What a model for all the women there! Her handsome little son is 5 and was dressed in a little tuxedo –wearing lime-green sunglasses. HOLD is changing the future for women who want to learn, earn, and be respected! They are making it possible for children to learn that they are loved.
I know what a difference this education opportunity means to girls and women here. It is Life-Giving. It means Hope. It makes a peaceful future for Congo possible.
Our contributions make the difference for these women. Thank you!!! Will you help us extend this work? There were visitors at HOLD this week who asked, “Can you help us make this type of training available in NW Congo?”
We visited the land HOLD has purchased. It is raw land and needs buildings. (We might even consider naming rights, if you can make a grant that will help raise the roofs!)
Peace to you,
Copyright © 2019 ACT for Congo, All rights reserved.