The testimony of a 26-year-old woman from Northern Uganda, smiling after her life changed for the better
By Sr Lina Siabana (WWO Ambassadress)
A 26-year-old woman from North Uganda, embodies the resilience and strength that the World Women Observatory (WWO) aims to highlight and support. Her life story is one of profound hardship and remarkable transformation, reflecting the vision of the WWO to empower women and foster social change.
Her early life was marked by extreme violence and oppression, abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army at the age of seven, she witnessed the brutal murder of her family and was forced into a life of unimaginable horrors. For 19 years, she lived among rebels, enduring sexual abuse, forced abortions, and severe physical and psychological trauma. Her existence was one of survival, learning to kill, and being subjected to inhuman conditions, including being forced to eat human flesh when food supplies ran out.
Despite these atrocities, her spirit remained unbroken, her turning point came when she realized the dwindling numbers in her group and the increasing threat to her own life. Driven by a desire for a life of meaning and dignity.
Her situation changed because of the different interventions that were offered. She had to be baptized and change her name, and she was treated for several infections due to the practice of unsafe abortions and untreated STIs. She had a very difficult time bringing to memory what she had lived through, fearing that the rebels might look for her and struggling with the realization of the atrocities she had committed. She felt empowered when she realized that the more she talked about her life in a place where she felt safe and not judged, the more peace was being restored within her. This was the beginning of her process of reconciliation with God, herself, and others.
The positive impact of the interventions is significant. She no longer cries or screams at night when the experiences resurface and can use techniques she was given to create a safe space for herself when she is not in therapy. She is now working at a restaurant, and there is hope that as she resettles, she will gain more confidence and explore opportunities for skills training. It is heartening to see her earn a living through her work, demonstrating the power of resilience and the importance of personal commitment to transformation.
From my perspective as an ambassador of the World Women Observatory, the key elements in her journey have been being present with her, listening to her story without judgment, and accepting her as a woman in a situation of vulnerability that she did not choose. Listening has been crucial. This role has helped me realize that I am an instrument that can bring hope where it has been lost, especially in working with women. It has also strengthened my belief that when one's story is written; it can change the story of others.
Collaboration with the priests and some laywomen who first came into contact with her and made her feel part of the community as family facilitated the whole process to success. Their support was invaluable in helping her rebuild her life and find a sense of belonging and purpose.
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