THEATRE VERSUS OPPRESSION
Registered Charity SC039092
Using applied theatre to bring about positive change and development

While this is a global issue, the solution lies locally. The root cause is in the individual mind, a misuse of our culture and a failure to understand the potential and importance of those around us. Whoever, gains the platform to give voice to these issues, finds a lack of reason and understanding in others.  As a result the world functions on the belief that one sex is stronger than the other and this, in turn, gives rise to selfishness and oppression.

I was born in 1990, in the North Eastern part of Congo (Goma district, North Kivu) and at the age of six I became a refugee in Uganda. This is my 13th year as a refugee. In this situation I very quickly came to learn of and understand the hardships so many women face in the refugee camp. When I first came to the camp in 1997, refugee children were offered an education by the UNHCR which provided foundations for learning. Young boys and girls attended the same school. However, as time passed the number of children attending school began to decrease. When the camp leaders investigated this, they discovered that the highest number of dropouts were the girls. Out of the 100 plus girls who began Primary one, less than 5 would reach Primary Seven and none went on to attend high school. It is true that life in the camp is hard, but it is hard for both boys and girls. This raised the question of why the number of girls studying was decreasing and at such an alarming rate.

Most families and even community leaders believe that girls do not deserve to be treated the same as boys.  Many women also believe and support this preconception. Whenever a family faces a financial crisis, it is the girl who is removed from school in order for her to take up a supportive role to generate money for the education of her brother. The responsibility of taking care of the family rests with the girl alone. For example, in the camp people many suffered from Malaria, food shortages and other poverty related problems. The most popular solution resorted to by parents was to removed the girls in the family from their schooling and send them to work top help relieve the needs of the family.  One girl with whom I had started school was forced to leave because her parents both became alcoholics. In order to secure the education of her siblings, she had to sacrifice her own schooling despite her young age. At the age of 14, no longer able to support the drinking habits of her parents and the needs of her siblings, this girl was forced into an unhappy marriage, leaving her brothers and sisters to support themselves. She is just one example of the many who are suffering to date.                                                                                                                                                     

Situations are worsened by girls being forced into early marriages in order for the parents to get money.  At such a young and innocent age, these girls are deprived of the right to make their own marital choices. At the same time they are being deprived of their potential to be the great mothers of our future world. Most of the time spent in the camp, I interacted with young children in Primary school, tutoring them during the holidays. In January 2008, I also spent time with the youth – mostly girls of 18 and above - outside of the school. By word of mouth and posting announcements in local churches, I invited them to a community meeting. 

In June 2008, new refugees came to the camp from north Kivu, my home province. Most of them were teenage girls. I met two girls from the new comers (Mahoro Consolatrice and Furaha Beatrice) who at first were unable and unwilling to speak of their personal stories. I visited them after every Sunday after church building their trust until they finally felt that they could speak to me. Both of them were in their last year of High school, but when the soldiers (rebels) come to the homes to find girls to rape her in front of their parents and siblings. It doesn’t matter how many they are on one girl and as a result some girls lose their lives. They told me about a girl who was raped in the presence of her brother and when she tried to resist the soldiers forced the brother to hold her legs for them. Many women also get raped when they are in gardens and even sometimes in their homes.

As a result of this many girls and women have lost their lives. Those who do not die of sexual torture often end their lives because of the trauma they have suffered. Others when raped in hidden places are afraid to tell others because they are ashamed and fear their husbands will divorce them. As a result AIDS has become more widespread and many children are born fatherless. And so now many parents have advised their daughters to flee their homes. Those girls who get the opportunity to escape, have left their home for unknown places. Some fled with neither their parents nor relatives, as was the case with Mahoro and Furaha. They had left their homes, parents, education and now had to begin a new life in the camp with no one to help them. Mahoro was 20 years old and Furaha 19 when they both joined the Anti-violence group.  Mahoro was given the position of Chair Lady because of her speaking skills and her unique spirit of hope. Furaha is one of the advisers in the group.

These and other factors have greatly hindered girls in many communities from having the happiness they deserve. They are ignored, mistreated and abused in all aspects of life and in most cases no one seems to care.  And even those who say that they do care, they take no action and provide no relief for these oppressed women and girls. The good news, however,  is that our Anti-violence group members hope are working to find ways to stop the problems of the past from controlling future lives and generations. The Anti-violence group confront the facts about the violence they face; they want to understand why some people act they way that they do and investigate how abuse of women’s rights affects us, our communities and our countries.  We seek to create an environment which enables us to take emotional and physical control of ourselves. We want to feel better inside and avoid some of the problems that might lie ahead of us, providing a strong foundation for those who will follow.  We wish to find out about caring people and Organisations who are willing to support us in making this happen.

Starting this Anti-violence group is an important first step towards relief, happiness and equality. Many have witnessed and heard about this violence, but failed to do anything about it.  Others do not consider it to be a serious problem and the failure to recognise this means no solutions are sought.  As members of the Anti-violence group, we are different. With personal experience of the violence, we know what is wrong. Instead of being victims forever, we have decided that we deserve better. We, along with those who wish to build a better future, will take the necessary steps to make a positive change. Together we will find the solutions for this undeserved treatment of innocent females. We want to attack all that is against us, accepting what we cannot change but completely changing the things we can. Though it may seem difficult, it is worth the effort because we are worth the effort. We want, we can and we will meet these challenges.

Joseph Munyambanza