19-year-old survivor of sexual violence wants to become Finance Minister
Abused but resilient and determined to succeed
In Bidibidi refugee settlement, Northern Uganda, 19-year-old Halima sits in her compound, pedaling a manually operated sewing machine as her one-year old son, Jacob, plays close by. She is making a two-piece African print attire that will soon be collected by a client. It is already looking good with a great design.
Two years ago, her life was different, she was in school and hoped to become the Finance Minister of her country. She focused on her education and liked Mathematics, Religious Education and English, her favourite subjects. But this all changed when Halima and her family were uprooted from their country, South Sudan due to war, completely changing her life.
The unfortunate incident
Halima narrates that during the five-day journey as they fled to Uganda, she was raped by a gang of boys at the stream while fetching water.
"They carried me and tied me up. I couldn’t scream as one was covering my mouth. I couldn’t fight, I was all alone,” she adds. “After that, they told me to walk away or stay if I didn’t want to."
What she didn’t know was the incident would have an impact on her life later.
With no support towards finding the culprits, the family, now more scared, continued their journey, arrived in Uganda and have since lived in a Bidibidi refugee settlement.
Devastated but not deterred from realizing her dream, a determined Halima enrolled in school and put the past behind her. She attributes the quick healing to support from her mother and the teachers at her new secondary school. However, the joy was short lived. A few weeks into the term, the senior woman teacher, during the routine medical checkups for adolescent girls, confirmed Halima pregnant.
"I was angry, I was disappointed. It was not my fault,"
Halima’s education journey had been interrupted. “I really wished to continue with my education but I had to drop out.” she sadly says.
Halima gets a second chance
A few months into her pregnancy, a new adolescent empowerment programme implemented by Danish Refugee Council (DRC) with support from UNICEF was introduced in the settlement, targeting adolescent girls that had dropped out of school. Halima qualified and was enrolled in the programme. She has since completed a tailoring course and has been equipped with a sewing machine that she shares with three other girls in her village within the refugee settlement. She makes clothes for various clients and earns 10,000 Uganda shillings in two weeks for repairs and 15,000 if she makes a complete attire. She utilizes the money to buy essentials and medication for her 1-year old son, Jacob.
Several girls have benefitted from the programme, equipping them with skills that will help them survive and thrive in the future.
In addition to the training, Halima received psychosocial support and counselling from the mentors of the programme. She speaks highly of Nelly, her mentor who helped her overcome the feeling of despair after she dropped out school. “When I arrived here, I was traumatized, my thoughts were all negative. However, she talked to me and I realized she had similar troubles like me. If Nelly made it, then I can make it,” Halima mentioned. Nelly continues to visit Halima every month to check on her progress.
Today, Halima is skilled in tailoring and still determined to return to school to realize her dream -becoming a Finance Minister. She believes that nothing will stop her this time since she is in a safe place.
Halima will return to school next year when Jacob makes two next year and enrolls at the nearby UNICEF-supported child friendly space. “I want to study from here, complete University and I want to learn accounts and commerce.” She affirms that the little money she earns through her tailoring skill, will enable her to cover the education expenses.
"Nelly told me one day I will be somebody if I follow my dream and believe in myself, that is why I do what I do,"
