Partnering to help recovery from the trauma of violence

Suzanne[1] has worked for Abadosinye, a community based organisation in Kabare, South Kivu, for two years. She became involved after seeing women suffering and wanted to help. Abadosinye means “people who consult one another before acting” in Maashi, the local language.

Suzanne is a volunteer case manager, providing support and care to survivors of sexual and physical violence through case management, a collaborative process, which helps a survivor recover. Suzanne helps survivors on their journey to recover from the trauma(s) they have experienced. She helps them to access services like medical care, legal assistance, counselling and emotional support, and to reintegrate into their community.

The International Rescue Committee works with community based organisations because experience has shown that these grassroots organisations are deeply embedded in, and trusted by, their local communities, and survivors feel comfortable speaking to women within this context. The IRC has trained volunteer case managers like Suzanne in 26 grassroots women’s organisations in eastern DRC to support survivors of sexual and physical violence in their communities. “Before, I didn’t know how to sit with a survivor. I didn’t know about the importance of confidentiality and how to help.” However, with IRC training and support, Suzanne built her confidence and now can support others.

“A woman, Mireille[2], came to me in tears” explains Suzanne, “She wanted to kill herself. Her husband hit her regularly and stole her money. It was even worse when he drank.” Despite her shame, Mireille found the courage to speak with Suzanne about her situation. “We created a plan to manage her case. We have to always be kind with the survivors and welcome them so that they feel open to share. We laugh with them to become closer.”

Suzanne gave Mireille emotional support, empathy, and appropriate information to make an informed decision about which actions she wanted to take. With Suzanne, Mireille was able to create a strategy to solve her problems. They discussed who else in her life could help her, where, and when, and they worked together to find a solution. Mireille secured her money by giving it to her oldest daughter, which also empowered her to be involved in the management of household resources. Mireille decided to store her merchandise in the depot in town, and was invited to join a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA).

Mireille was able to save money in the VSLA group to feed and clothe her four children, and started a business selling manioc flour. She kept her money and merchandise in secure places, but she always informed her husband of her activities. With time, Mireille’s husband reduced his alcohol consumption and he recognised that he needs her. Mireille was able to keep herself and her money safe, and get the emotional support and counselling she needed to work through this difficult time.

Mireille is one of many thousands of women in the Democratic Republic of Congo who are receiving lifesaving support from the IRC.

The IRC’s Women’s Protection and Empowerment programme has worked in the North and South Kivu provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo since 2002, providing essential medical care, counselling and emotional support and legal services to over 12,000 survivors of sexual and physical violence since 2009. The combination of case management and psychological and social support is the foundation upon which cognitive processing therapy can be provided, supporting survivors to recover and heal. Cognitive Processing Therapy is a targeted mental health therapy that gives survivors of sexual violence a new way to manage distressing thoughts and helps them to view past events in a more realistic way, so they can achieve more balanced memories. Following the therapy, memories of a traumatic event do not trigger such intense, upsetting emotions, and survivors can return to a more normal life. Approximately 100 survivors will receive cognitive processing therapy services during a pilot project, made possible through funding from the Humanitarian Innovation Fund, which will train health service providers to provide cognitive processing therapy through existing health facilities in the DRC. Alongside these services, the IRC also creates social and economic opportunities for women and girls, works with communities to promote supportive environments, and helps to raise their voices through advocacy at local, national and international levels.

[1] Suzanne’s name has been changed to protect her identity and ensure her safety, as providing supporting to survivors of violence could make her a target of reprisal.

[2] Mireille’s name has been changed to protect her confidentiality.