About
Leah Chishugi describes herself as a survivor of the Rwandan genocide. Now 34, she grew up in eastern Congo but by 16 she had moved to Kigali, the Rwandan capital, to find work as a model, later marrying and having a son. In 1994 she was caught up in the conflict and wounded, and her father was killed. She escaped only after being left for dead under a pile of corpses, fleeing to Uganda, and later South Africa and the UK, where she was granted asylum.
To read more please click here (article taken from The Guardian written by Esther Addley, Friday December 5 2008)
I heard you speak on Woman Hour this morning and I was very moved by your bravery and compassion. The suffering of the women you met was horrific and it is right that we in the West are made aware of their cicumstances and the reprocutions of their experiences. Unfortunately I am a single woman and struggling financially but if there is anything I can do to help I would gladly give my time.
i have just read you story in “you” mag.
I have to say i shed some emotions !
i was violated once when i was young,i put it behind me .
shut the door.
i think your ladies have a more difffecult task, i feel for you, and wish you good luck ,because i think you wil need it!
i will donate,
i want to give those
i now can move on!
i would like to
The suffering of these women broke my heart.Nobody deserves what the Rwandan women and their families have been through, how can human beings inflict such pain and torture on innocent people. I hope the survivors get to know that their stories touch and break the hearts of others far away and that there are people thinking of them .I despair of what people do to each other.
I read your moving story in a newspaper magazine and I was saddened that at these times women are made to suffer over in the Congo. I will give you something and of course they will be in my prayers that their pain will finally be over and be able to live normal lives. We in the West are lucky to have a stable enough of a life that in fact we are supposed to be helping those in need in all walks of life. I have texted all I know of this website and I will email all about this worthy cause. I hope you will get all the help you need leah.
Take Care
PS St. Anthonys Pray actually works if it is something you really want to happen in a good way.
I really appreciate the work you are doing, being the voice of voicelesses.
I will definitely support in any how.
I read about your work and the plight of women in the congo region and felt like many others I had to act. It is my daughters first birthday next week and instead of gifts we are asking people to make donations to yourselves. I notice many other people have asked if there is anything more that we can do in the way of donations of clothing etc. I know that there are strict rules on these kind of donations (well with the other charities I have asked). Is there anyway to donate such items?
I greatly admire the work that you are doing and I am passing this web address to everyone I know
Read ur column in Look magazine…as the first person from the outside world to reach this desperate region, its great your getting ur story out there. these women hav been violated worse than ive heard in a long time, and i feel so much for them an their children, who i agree, need to be brought up right to stop this continuing any longer. I will help as much as I can and will let others know about this cause…
I was sitting in my GP surgery searching for some easy reading whilst I waited to be seen. Instead I came across your article. I was horrified, and as a fellow child of Africa, it really does take a lot to horrify me! I have to help, I am a doctor. Let me know what I can do..please. The good in this world have to outshine those who are evil.