What brought her to the heart of Africa?
Protect animals and people who suffer. It all started at the Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Center (CPRL) which I have been developing for 16 years.
You are already almost Congolese.
We have grown and become involved in many sustainable human development projects.
A country ravaged by violence.
Its population lives immersed in a collective trauma transmitted from generation to generation. There are still many rebel groups, 134 in the Kivu region where I am. The world is fighting over its minerals.
Women take the worst part.
And the girls The representative of the village leaders explained to me quite naturally why they violate them. "Madame, everyone knows that girls are raped, one man after another, or their wombs are ripped out to keep the red diamond, with their blood."
for what
They believe it has magical qualities. The blood of a virgin can cure AIDS and any disease, make you invincible, and attract wealth and power... But girls have to be very young to be sure they are virgins.
Who perpetrates this barbarity?
We were 7 kilometers from a town where there were more than 52 cases, including a six-month-old girl. We managed to send police from the capital to investigate, the person responsible was a deputy who had created a personal militia.
And did he believe in those lies?
All the powerful have a sorcerer advisor. Raping girls was the ceremony before any assault. We succeeded in prosecuting the deputy, and 11 other people, and in prison for life. Such a success.
And what about the girls?
When they return from the hospital, we send them to school and provide psychological care. Soon other girls and women who had been raped by a neighbor, a teacher, a policeman, a military man began to appear. We do group therapy with young people and adults.
This is very western.
The women attended with distrust. "Why can't the doctors see us one at a time?", they asked, but when one dared to tell her story and the symptoms she was suffering from, the rest identified with her.
And did they open?
Yes, it was then that they gave me the nickname Mama Mutima (mama heart), they said that I must be a great witch, because the women went around the villages telling that they had gone to Mutima feeling dead inside and had left feeling eager to return to church and visit the neighbors.
This is where the name of its center comes from.
We are doing a beautiful job because we train professionals in modern trauma techniques, involve women in the care of chimpanzees and turn girls into ambassadors for nature.
Bravo.
Animals are the best therapy, they often reach without words where people with a voice cannot.
They also call her Mama Kerene.
Kerene is one of those girls, she was raped when she was 4 years old, I took her to the hospital myself because we couldn't find her mother, she was bleeding. The mother disappeared and I looked for her to adopt Kerene.
You identify with those women.
I was also abused as a child, but I will tell you one thing, there are many women who have suffered abuse, so when I start to explain it they are honest with me, and I am not talking only about the Congolese women.
Secrets that are kept and hurt.
I say it openly because I don't want to be a victim. Any trauma needs to be turned into something you've survived. You need to reconnect with life from another place. All women who have suffered abuse feel guilt and shame.
They should hear about it.
Without a doubt, this is why I have been fighting for years to work with the Congolese regular army. Recently one raped a 12-year-old girl, the community reacted against the army and they had to imprison him. We have made a lot of progress.
What was the usual reaction?
Out, baby, you're dirty!
At what age were you abused?
At the age of 8 For a long time I was convinced that I would never have a boyfriend or sex, I felt dirty, a horrible feeling, but psychology works, so I threw myself into helping these girls.
And that didn't cause you problems?
Yes, I have lived under the threat of death, many days I didn't know if I would get home, where the rangers protected me.
What is it that you love so much about the Congo?
It's my home, I've lived there for 16 years, I love its sense of humor. Despite the drama they live through, they have a lot of joy and laugh, sing and dance.
