Reconciliation of Refugees Returning from Exile.

IPB JUNE 2022 NARRATIVE REPORT

Context

The COVID 19 pandemic has sensibly reduced and the good governance and Human Right respect. Negative consequences of the war in Ukraine have implication on the effective reintegration of returnees from exile in particular

In contributing to this context, IPB conducted a Healing and Rebuilding Our Community Basic workshop in this June 07 - 09, 2022 with 10 repatriated women and 10 who remained in the country to promote effective reintegration. Five coaching meetings were facilitated for five Self Help Group to reinforce the community social cohesion and economic resilience.

Following are key success stories

Judith

My mother’s died the time she was giving birth to my young sister. Even though I was still little girl I stopped my studies to take care of my young brothers and sisters.

This woman caring to the new born claimed from my father a special diet and other needed material including baby’s clothes in vain.

Late on my father got remarried with a woman who did not want to understand that we still need our father’s affection. She created a kind of blocks between her own children and us. She didn’t want us to inherit from our father wealth

All these situation wounded me at the point that I developed trauma symptoms which I come to discover during this trauma healing workshop.

I’m glad to learn that after traumatic events life must continue. I had despaired at the stage I didn’t believed in the future

Being part of the Self Help group is to have a family and from that family I see future life too.

I’m not able to share you about the life I lived in the refugee’s camp.

May be next time if there should a follow up.

Cecile

I was wounded by my husband’s behaviors. He joined the rebel movement, two years after our marriage. We had the first baby. After their training each one was appointed in his region to combat there. He was then captured and imprisoned in different dungeons accusing him of political affairs. I was summoned where I said that he was kidnapped by rebels and came back after a while. After two months, he was once again arrested by the local administration and put him in jail once again. I advocated for him to the human right team and became released.

After four years running behind my husband case, the recompense was to divorce with me and got married to another wife. He mistreated me and my children. This behavior wounded me at the point I developed a series of trauma symptoms.

I’m glad that I got time to express on this situation that have been weighing on me for year. It’s so important for me to be part of a Self Help Group to seek for financial autonomy.

By Elie Nahimana

Project leader

• Self Help Group session (DOCX)