We Have Hope
By Angela Atim, activist and founder of Watye Ki Gen, Uganda
I began Watye Ki Gen in June 2012 as a project to work with female returnees. Since the cessation of hostilities between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda in 2006, it has been difficult for us - the kidnapped women, and the children we gave birth to in the bush, to return to a normal life.
The idea, when I started Watye Ki Gen, was to provide an opportunity for us to work together to support each other; to provide special help for the children born in the bush and to increase our political know-how and ability to fight for our rights. The largest issue for us since the end of the conflict has been the tremendous challenges faced by children born in captivity.
From the beginning, Watye Ki Gen has been a support group; all of the organisation’s members are formerly abducted females, and we provide a safe place for women and girls to share stories and support each other in the difficult process of reintegrating back into their homes and communities.
We have been holding workshops for mothers and children to learn about their rights and how they can avoid stigma, as well as having confidence in their identity. This past year Watye Ki Gen also finally finished the documentation of children born in captivity; babies who were born in the bush never had their births registered, but now they have birth certificates that they can use to register for school, go to the doctor, and apply for jobs.
The name ‘Watye Ki Gen’ (we have hope) was chosen to reflect the fact that female returnees are strong, and have hope and faith that their voice and work can contribute to the welfare of themselves, their children and their communities.
Achievements after the Global Summit
Since I came back from the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in London last summer, I feel stronger, determined, and not afraid to struggle for the innocent children born of rape. Our members and their children born in captivity have also been touched; now they feel there are people who love them and still care to listen to their issues.
Even though the summit was held in London, it also helped spread our message in Uganda. There is now more trust among our own people in Uganda, especially in the northern region where we still face a lot of challenges in our day-to-day life as a result of the LRA war. Watye Ki Gen has begun to be invited to share our ideas and work with local government and other organisations to improve life for children born in captivity.
World Vision Uganda has always stood with us and is still standing with us. In the past year they have helped pass the ‘Gender Ordinance’ - a new local law aimed at preventing sexual violence that outlines how officials should respond to violence when it does occur, and what the penalties should be for the perpetrator. The new law has helped restore hope to the mothers as well.
Work still to do
It has not all been smooth progress ahead, however. It’s a struggle to find continued funding for the organisation when there is so much need. Mothers are worried for their children growing up in a world of rejection and stigma. Their sons especially feel they need revenge on the people who did them wrong. We are trying to engage them in sport and jobs training to give them a sense of belonging and ownership yet we still encounter difficulties.
We have come forward and formed Watye Ki Gen, risking abuse, stigmatization, and rejection, to struggle for our rights of freedom and for our children born out of sexual violence. We are strong, and convinced we can continue to cause changes, but though the conference in London last year was a start, we now need the world to continue to stand with us.
A new report issued today, Continuing the journey, looks at the progress that has been made in ending sexual violence in conflict since the Global Summit last year, and highlights issues that still challenge Angela and the other delegates. If you are interested in reading it, or finding out more about World Vision’s work in this area, please click here.