We recently shared with you an update about our howFar Abused Women's Centers and Widows Centers in the Congo. Shortly after posting that update, TIME Magazine released an article titled, "The Secret War Crime" (linked below), discussing the issue of rape in war-torn African countries. One of the countries discussed is the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is where much of our current work is being done.
Often times in Africa, the women do not have a voice - historically, there has been no punishment for rape, so when there are wars, the soldiers take advantage of the villages that they come into, knowing that they will have no consequences for their atrocious actions. The TIME article says, "rape in war is as old as war itself." The article continues, with one of the women saying,
Not only are the women suffering from this injustice, but the children are too. The children in our howFar orphanage in the Congo are there because of the constant warfare that has been present in the country for years. Most of these children have witnessed their parents being killed right in front of their innocent eyes.
The solution to this brutal and disturbing problem begins with you and me. The way to bring about change, is to educate and care for the people of Africa. If we can raise all 120 of the children in our orphanage, especially the young men, to understand that women are important, and that all people deserve respect - imagine what those 120 children will accomplish for their country as they grow! If we continue to care for the abused women, and the widows, by providing counseling and medical help at our clinic, they will be able to face another day and help other victims.
Please take the time to read the article below, make yourself aware of the devastation in the Congo, and learn about how you can help us change lives in the Congo!
TIME article: http://time.com/war-and-rape/?xid=time_socialflow_facebook
Click the DONATE button on our page to support our Women's and Orphans Programs.
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| A woman and her baby sit outside a howFar Women's Center in DR Congo |
Though this article is difficult to read, we feel that it is important to be informed about what is happening to the people of the Congo, and what we can do to change the vicious cycle.
Often times in Africa, the women do not have a voice - historically, there has been no punishment for rape, so when there are wars, the soldiers take advantage of the villages that they come into, knowing that they will have no consequences for their atrocious actions. The TIME article says, "rape in war is as old as war itself." The article continues, with one of the women saying,
"At least with a bullet, you die. But if you have been raped, you appear to the community like someone who is cursed. After rape, no one will talk to you; no man will see you. It’s a living death.”The U.N. reports that 200,000 Congolese women and children have been raped during Congo’s long-simmering conflict.
Not only are the women suffering from this injustice, but the children are too. The children in our howFar orphanage in the Congo are there because of the constant warfare that has been present in the country for years. Most of these children have witnessed their parents being killed right in front of their innocent eyes.
The solution to this brutal and disturbing problem begins with you and me. The way to bring about change, is to educate and care for the people of Africa. If we can raise all 120 of the children in our orphanage, especially the young men, to understand that women are important, and that all people deserve respect - imagine what those 120 children will accomplish for their country as they grow! If we continue to care for the abused women, and the widows, by providing counseling and medical help at our clinic, they will be able to face another day and help other victims.
Please take the time to read the article below, make yourself aware of the devastation in the Congo, and learn about how you can help us change lives in the Congo!
TIME article: http://time.com/war-and-rape/?xid=time_socialflow_facebook
Click the DONATE button on our page to support our Women's and Orphans Programs.
Written by: Hillary Mackay, howFar Social Media and Marketing Specialist
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