Success Story

Congolese Refugee Overcomes Rape, Rebuilds Her Life

In Uvira, a town in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where rape victims are marginalized and isolated, one Congolese woman, named Generose, struggles to make ends meet. Two years ago, Generose was brutally raped and forced to watch her brother's murder. Today, after months of displacement, the 32-year-old, who was once cast-off from society, can rekindle her dream of building a new life.

With the support of the UN Refugee Agency, Generose is receiving the social, economic and psychological support she needs to thrive in her new home. Despite the daunting task ahead, the former rape victim is determined to succeed. She says proudly, "I dare hope of having a house, of living in peace, of reclaiming my dignity."

Generose is only one of thousands of victims of conflict in the DRC's South Kivu Province who were forced to flee their homes. A UNHCR-backed program in the country is aimed at helping women reclaim their lives by teaching them self sufficiency, business management, and how to read and write - skills that will help them start small businesses and become active members of their communities. 

Despite all they have lost in their struggle, with the help of the UN Refugee Agency, refugees like Generose have a chance to restore some of what was taken from them.