'I was home alone when mum went to get water'

Happy is 6 years old

A pink Minnie Mouse sweatshirt and bright yellow Crocs. At first glance, Happy looks the way a 6-year-old child should look. Dressed in bright colors, safe on her mommy's lap.

(Continue reading below the photo)

She may remind you of your own (grand)children.

Recently, disaster struck in her home in Luberisi, a village south of Bukavu. A soldier broke in and raped her.

“I was home alone when mom went to get water,” she says. "A man I didn't know broke down our front door and hurt me a lot. I cried and asked him to stop. But he continued. Until my mom came home."

Happy is a 6-year-old girl. She lives in Luberisi, a village in the Pleine de Rusizi, south of our home base of Bukavu. Happy was raped by an unknown soldier.

In the Luberisi area, Mamas for Africa has six reception points where our local staff give survivors of sexual violence initial care. They often make the difference between life and death. In the inhospitable area full of rebels and mutinous soldiers, there is no other medical infrastructure where victims can go for free.

(Continue reading below photo)

Happy's mom found her bleeding and crying. Totally panicking, she took her baby on her arm and ran to the Mamas for Africa reception point in the village. There we gave Happy the first care.

Our psychologist, Feza, came over from Bukavu as soon as possible and is now closely monitoring both Happy and her mom.

Thanks to Mamas for Africa and its donors, Happy is getting help. Help us bring the shine back to her inky black eyes.

After all, little Happy is not only medically but also socially vulnerable. Her fellow villagers are affected too, ashamed. We talk to them to break the taboo. So that there is a life for survivors after sexual violence.