On the occasion of the Intenational Day for the ELIMINATION of VIOLENCE AGAINTS WOMEN, ee want to share with you the latest letter from Alessia, our colleague in Zambia and coordinator of Ulemu, our partner NGO, as well as of Stop The Violence, a project we have been running since 2018.
“We are living very challenging and busy times here in Zambia. A severe drought is causing frequent blackouts, which makes life very difficult. Moreover, the economic and nutritional situation of the population is getting worse day by day: from November to April it is supposed to be the rainy season, but so far, very little rain has fallen.
Ulemu, together with the local team, continues to work closely with victims of violence in the Kanyama community, where the abuse rate remains the highest among districts in the country. By the end of the third quarter of 2024, Ulemu had supported more than 500 cases of violence, and in October, the One Stop Centre at the main hospital recorded 196 cases. Among these, 30 were baby girls who had been sexually abused.
Thanks to the continuous support we receive, Ulemu can provide psychological, medical, and legal assistance to victims, and welcome some of these girls into a safe house, where they begin a rehabilitation journey. There are about twenty spots available, though sometimes we accommodate even more. This little oasis—a simple home—truly transforms them. When they first arrive and during the first month, most barely play or speak. But over time, you watch them come back to life: they start playing like other children, their eyes sparkle again, and the dark shadow around them fades away!
Thank you for everything.”
Alessia
