Survivor Stories

AFTER VIOLENCE, SHE CHOSE HEALING, AND A FUTURE OF SERVICE

Nabintu found a path toward healing through holistic care. Today, she is a graduate and committed to supporting other women on their own journeys of recovery.

Nabintu* arrived at Panzi in 2014 when she was just 15 years old, after surviving rape in her own neighborhood. Like many survivors, the violence shattered her sense of safety and placed her future in jeopardy.

More than 35,000 children were victims of rape and sexual violence during the first nine months of 2025 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

After receiving initial medical care at Panzi hospital, Nabintu was transferred to Maison Dorcas, Panzi’s transition and reintegration center. She lived there as a resident for five years, benefiting from comprehensive support that combined healthcare, education, and economic empowerment.

The war in DRC has been ongoing for almost 30 years.

I thought my life was ruined. I didn’t know if I would ever study again… I honestly even wanted to die.

At Maison Dorcas, Nabintu continued her schooling at a nearby school while also receiving training in knitting, embroidery, and computer skills. Beyond technical learning, one approach proved essential to her healing: music therapy.

“Singing in a group soothed my mind. Music helped me go to school without being overwhelmed by stress and anguish.”

Gradually, Nabintu regained emotional stability and the ability to imagine a future again. In 2019, she earned her State Diploma. With sustained support from the Panzi Foundation and its teams, Nabintu gradually redefined her path. She chose to pursue a career as a midwife, driven by the desire to help women give birth, especially those who, like her, became pregnant after rape.

“I wanted to comfort them and help them understand that after rape, life continues.”

Today, after five years of study at the Higher Institute of Medical Technology (ISTM), Nabintu has earned a degree in midwifery sciences with distinction. She credits the care, protection, and long-term support she received at Panzi for making this journey possible.

“I didn’t know if I would ever become the person I am today.”

Nabintu’s story reflects the power of holistic care: when a survivor is treated, protected, and supported over time, healing becomes possible, and the future can be reclaimed.