Stories from the Ground

Nyota Story

Nyota is a survivor whose only valuable possession is hope.

She was working the fields in the region of Rutshuru in North Kivu with her seven-year-old daughter when six armed soldiers viciously attacked them. She and her daughter Sifa endured violent gang rape. They were tied to trees, beaten and kept as sex slaves for three weeks. Nyota and Sifa suffered lack of food and had only shreds of clothing after the attacks.

They escaped and returned to their village only to find everything was gone: Nyota’s husband and three sons were dead. Sifa could not survive the horrible conditions and extreme loss. She died ten days after returning to what was left of the village.

Nyota is very weak physically, in pain and needs surgery. The only thing that she will never loose is hope. Hope that someone will help her live again and help her and thousands of other women survive the atrocities of violent crimes in Eastern Congo right now.

Registration of Women Survivors & Orphan Children

Congo Programs director, Monica Murphy-Ngoie celebrating a sucessful registration of women survivors of sexual violence and orphan children in our programs calendar year 2009-2010, Lubumbashi, Katanga

These children's education has been interrupted for more than 4 years due to the war. Shitowa Foundation in partnership with Bambi School will provide full school tuition,uniforms and supplies for this calendar year.Please help us rebuild the lives of these orphans by providing education and shelter.