Thumbprints
Esperance lives in the Democratic Republic Congo, the worst place in the world to be a woman. She is 50 years old, a mother of four children and a widow. Esperance watched her husband die at the hand of rebels. She was violently raped and would have died if her sisters did not rescue her. She is a survivor of the worst violence imaginable, a violence that has plagued nearly 90 percent of women in Congo. Today she is a peacemaker living in a war zone, helping to stem the tide of violence in the Congo, waging peace in tangible ways with thousands like her.
Esperance is preliterate. To give permission to share her story, she asked her pastor to write these words: "Tell my story." Then, underneath, she stamped her thumbprint.
Thumbprints, a defining biometric, prove that every person is as human as the next. They speak to the irreplaceable and unrepeatable nature of a single human life. Esperance’s thumbprint is our mandate to tell her story, and thousands like it.
Photo courtesy of Chelsea Hudson (www.chelseahudson.com)
The Problem
Violence against women is present in every war zone in the world. Hundreds of women are raped every day on the front lines of conflict. “In order to break a nation, you must take the land, said a Congolese warlord. “To take the land, you must break the village, and to break the village, you must break the heart of the village—the women.” Ending violence against women in conflict includes changing community perceptions about sexual violence, putting an end to stigma so that survivors can receive adequate care and restoration.
The Solution
Our strategy is four-fold:
Catalyze voice with women and girls affected by violence in conflict zones;
Fund programs ensuring the survival of women and girls in conflict zones, including safe spaces, trauma support, health services, education and economic opportunity with our local level implementing partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon and Syria;
Increase resilience in women and girls affected by, or vulnerable to, violence associated with war and conflict through capacity-building and training, and;
Advocate for policy that protects women and girls in conflict zones, advocating on a global level, urging the UN and other government leaders to follow through on resolutions, rulings and relationships that can make a difference.
Give a Gift
Help her survive by giving a financial gift to women and girls living in the world's worst conflict zones.
You can give online or send a check to the address below. You will receive a tax deductIble receipt for your donation.
ONE MILLION THUMBPRINTS
PO Box 230132
Grand Rapids MI 49523
Your sisters would like to say THANK YOU!
Together International is a registered 501(c)(3) charity in the United States. One Million Thumbprints(1MT) is legally registered as a "DBA" ("Doing Business As") of Together International. One Million Thumbprints is a GuideStar registered charity. All gifts are tax deductible. Your information and data are always protected and kept private.