Providing health care to 1000s in Bujumbura slum

“When I was 14 years old, my father died in my hands. I went to live with my aunt, but her husband mistreated me so much that he wanted to rape me. Then, I got married too early to escape that kind of life. It was after that I found out that my husband had epilepsy. He beat me with big wires that we use for electrical installation. He was beating on my bodily parts that were invisible to everyone. I was living with this grief. Even my kids didn't know that their dad was beating me. One day, I asked my son who was studying in 10th grade to come home very early. When he arrived at home, he discovered his father with a machete on me wanting to slit me. He was surprised because he didn't think it could happen because I had always hidden my pain. It was my son who saved my life that day. Because of the difficult life, my daughter also got married too early. She divorced after having two children. We live together today. In 2015 during the crisis, my husband left the house and he did not come back. We do not know whether he was swept away by epilepsy or the political crisis. No news from him so far. At the moment we are trying to survive with my children. With this training, I will avoid negative thoughts and collaborate with my children (whom I trust) to move forward.”

• FWA_AUGUST_2021_NARRATIVE_REPORT.pdf (PDF)
  

“My name is Leilla. I grew up in a family where my parents were always quarrelling. I was born in Sororezo, Bujumbura province. When I was 15 years old, my mother left my father because she was beaten almost every day. It was since that time that I started to do the work my mother was doing (working in fields, feeding my brothers and sisters) so that my brothers and sisters can survive. I then decided to join my mother. My father came to pick me by force, but he didn’t find me because I was staying at my cousin home in Musaga, Bujumbura Mairie. Some months later, my little brother left my parents ‘house to find a job in Bujumbura Mairie. Finally, my whole family was killed when President Ndadaye was assassinated on October 21^st, 1993. They were burnt in our house. When I learned about the sad news, I felt so sorrowful that I wanted to commit suicide. Then, I was told that my brother who was here in Bujumbura Mairie was brought to Rwanda and died there. I didn’t get a chance to attend his burial ceremony. Even today, I don’t want people speaking about both Sororezo and Rwanda. Thanks a lot for organizing this workshop so that I can share my sad stories.”

Links:

• FWA July 2021 Narrative report

• FWA_July_2021_Narrative_report.pdf (PDF)