Sewing Training for Congolese Survivors of Sexual Violence

Women and girls bear the brunt of the conflict in Congo – their bodies have become the battlegrounds on which a bloody conflict over Congo’s rich mineral wealth is being waged. And the trauma of rape and sexual violence lasts long after physical scars may have healed – women seeking medical treatment for rape face stigmatization, see their savings depleted and may not be able to return to their traditional livelihoods – often intensive agricultural labor.

The HEALing Arts Program, in partnership with HEAL Africa, gives survivors of sexual violence a second chance. By teaching women vocational skills such as sewing and tailoring, the program offers them both a chance to pay for their medical treatment and a way to restart their lives when they are well enough to return home. Once trained, the women receive a small grant to help them start their businesses in their home communities, helping with their reintegration.

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