Spencer Neiman, board member of the Dillon Henry Foundation, is traveling with four other JWW delegates in Congo’s eastern provinces. They will work with survivors of the country’s decades-long conflict, which has claimed nearly six millions lives. They will meet with JWW’s partners on the ground, with whom JWW works to create innovative programs and projects that change lives and transform communities.
Today we made the trek to the Chambucha Rape and Crisis Center in of North Kivu, DRC. I have been looking forward to visiting this site because of the amazing services provided here. After our four and a half hour drive on one of the bumpiest roads I’ve ever been on, we arrived. We were immediately greeted by the whole staff who were smiling and so happy to receive us. There is a plaque of Dillon’s smiling face on the wall because The Dillon Henry Foundation underwrote a large portion of this facility, along with other generous donors to the project.* Standing in front of this plaque, I spoke about Dillon’s huge heart and his immense care for the people on this earth, wherever they may be. To see the lasting impact that Dillon’s memory makes in this part of the world was incredible.
The goal of the facility was to provide medical assistance to pregnant women, but there have also been other extremely positive side effects. We met with some community leaders from Chambucha whose work focuses in Gender Based Violence prevention and assistance to survivors of sexual violence. These leaders conveyed to us that since the opening of this center, and the implementation of a few other programs, the conversation around rape and gender has started to change. It is becoming a more common practice for a woman to seek medical attention at this center after being raped, as opposed to the previous practice of keeping silent. Women are starting to help one another through education, counseling, and group meetings.
Many women who are survivors of rape are shunned from their families and communities and are thought to have lost all worth. These women’s groups organized at Chambucha assist women by providing emotional support, giving advice and teaching skills that the women can use to start earning money. They help survivors find their place in society and value as humans. Men’s groups have even been created to discuss the effects of sexual violence and how to best assist those subjected to it.
Today was a very hopeful day for me. We were prepared to see the amazing medical facility, but we were so moved to learn that its presence in this community has helped open a much larger discussion of women’s role in society and empowerment. Today proved that positive action begets more positive action. Women here are starting to be empowered to make decisions within their families and the community at large. I am so inspired by the people of Chambucha we met with; they want to better their community in big ways. Change can and will happen here as they remain dedicated to this incredibly hard work. JWW will certainly be there to support them.
*The Dillon Henry Foundation was joined in their generosity by the Vladimir and Araxia Buckhantz Foundation, the Arnow Family Foundation and many individuals, families and synagogues to fund the Chambucha Rape and Crisis Center.