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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
In the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, many families have been battered1 by war, rape2, poverty and a lack of education. However, a humanitarian3 group says there’s a way to help families not only deal with the issues, but rise above them.
The eastern DRC has become synonymous with war and rape. In recent years, various rebel groups have attacked and looted villages, driving civilians4 into the bush to escape. Attempts by government forces and U.N. troops to defeat them have often made matters worse for civilians, as militias5 launch retaliatory6 strikes against villagers. But many aid groups working in the region have blamed all warring parties for attacks on civilians.
Weapon of war
Rape is a weapon of war in the Congo. It’s done to subdue7, demoralize and humiliate8 populations. And it spreads HIV/AIDS. The attacks often occur in front of family members. Many women are so brutally9 assaulted they need surgery to repair the damage. But it doesn’t always work. And then there’s the psychological damage.
In Goma FXB founder10 Albina du Boisrouvray, meets with a woman benefiting from aid program
In the Goma area, the FXB Foundation has created a village of hope and healing, but not one that you would find on any map. FXB founder Albina du Boisrouvray says it’s a village nonetheless.
“It’s a network of 80 families in the same region. It’s not a real village. It’s a virtual village in a way because we don’t take people who are neighbors next door to each other,” she says
She says families must meet certain criteria11.
“We choose in a community the 80 poorest, most destitute12 families, who have the reputation of being the most hardworking and honest ones in the community. And those who have the most children to raise,” she says.
She says some in the program have experienced unimaginable hardships.
“One woman comes to mind of those I have visited, who was a woman who has been raped13 six times, has a kid from one of those rapes14, has a daughter who she’s taken in with her, who also has a kid from the rapes. That means that in the little hovel – nine people living in there,” she says.
When the woman first joined, du Boisrouvray says she was emaciated15. She now weighs 48 kilos. Food is a big part of the program.
“We bring bags of rice, of beans, of flour, whatever. (The) usual food staples16 these people eat and enough quantity for the whole family. We also bring them immediately basic lessons of hygiene17. Usually we try to build latrines, first thing,” she says.
A better life
In the first year of the FXB program, a family’s broken shelter is repaired as best as possible.
“The second year we’ll try to get that person with their savings18 to be able to get out of that hovel. Now with the savings that you have you should be trying to get a little piece of land. At least rent it if you can’t buy it. And then we will get other people, other families, other volunteers or our people to help you build your house, which will be a much more solid house,” she says.
How do they go about saving money? Du Boisrouvray says FXB helps families start small income generating activities. In rural areas, it may be growing food on small plots of land and selling it. Families may be given pigs or chickens. In more urban areas, families may receive sewing machines.
She says mental health is just as important as physical health.
‘We just give them psychosocial counseling by helping19 them regain20 their self assurance and their dignity as human beings. I think that’s a very important component,” he says.
Change comes quickly.
“And you see the difference,” she says, “When you see people in the first few months when they’ve been picked and taken in, they have their heads down. They look miserable21. They’re ashamed. Even a few months later they’re standing22 up more erect23.”
The women tell FXB they no longer worry about how they’re going to feed their families.
Women who’ve been raped are tested for HIV. If they test positive, they’re counseled on how to live with the disease.
Du Boisrouvray says the program succeeds because it wins the trust of the Congolese people.
“I work with only local people. I don’t have any expats (expatriates) coming in and saying, look, this is what we feel you should be doing. It’s their own peers. I mean all the social workers and the nurses. So these are local people who they know, local people who they trust,” she says.
The FXB virtual village also ensures children get into local schools, paying any fees if necessary. The foundation runs many programs in Africa and elsewhere around the world, many of them providing assistance to AIDS orphans24 and vulnerable children.
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1
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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rape
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| n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸 | |
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3
humanitarian
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| n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者 | |
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civilians
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| 平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓 | |
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militias
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| n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 ) | |
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retaliatory
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| adj.报复的 | |
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subdue
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| vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制 | |
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humiliate
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| v.使羞辱，使丢脸[同]disgrace | |
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brutally
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| adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地 | |
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Founder
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| n.创始者，缔造者 | |
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criteria
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| n.标准 | |
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destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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raped
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| v.以暴力夺取，强夺( rape的过去式和过去分词 )；强奸 | |
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rapes
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| n.芸苔( rape的名词复数 )；强奸罪；强奸案；肆意损坏v.以暴力夺取，强夺( rape的第三人称单数 )；强奸 | |
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emaciated
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| adj.衰弱的，消瘦的 | |
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staples
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| n.（某国的）主要产品( staple的名词复数 )；钉书钉；U 形钉；主要部份v.用钉书钉钉住( staple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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hygiene
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| n.健康法，卫生学 （a.hygienic） | |
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savings
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| n.存款，储蓄 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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orphans
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| 孤儿( orphan的名词复数 ) | |
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