Susan’s secret history | The legacy of sexual violence in Uganda’s conflict
Photo: Susan, 9
Parents are hard-wired to protect their children. We baby-proof our homes and do all we can to keep little ones away from danger as they grow up.
But what if violence and fear are at the core of your child’s early years; how do you protect your child from their own past?
Susan: Child Carer without a home
“I want to go to school one day, but I know I have to help my mother with the chores, because she only has one hand. I clean and help sell beans at the market and I also take care of my younger siblings. My mum needs a lot of help.”
Susan* is nine years old. She doesn’t go to school, but instead helps her disabled mum, Irene, with the daily chores and selling beans at the market. Susan’s older siblings work too. They don’t have a home to call their own. Until recently the family were spending their nights in a dirty, smelly chicken coup, just to have a roof over their heads.
Susan’s present is heartbreakingly difficult, but it hides a darker past; a past even Susan is protected from. It started when her mum, Irene*, was Susan’s age.
Irene: abducted, child soldier, rejected sister and dedicated mother
“It was the happiest time of my life. One evening, when we were outside dancing, bright lights appeared and surrounded us. What happened next is a blur to me, but I was taken away by soldiers, alongside many of my friends.
“I was given a gun and a knife. From that day on, I had to learn how to fight and survive in the bush. After two years of fighting I started working as a babysitter for the army commander. I never had to return to the fighting, but instead, became the commander’s wife for the next decade. I was 13 years old when I was pregnant with my first daughter.
“I grew up in Uganda, but spent all my years of captivity in South Sudan. After I gave birth to my six children, I was finally able to flee. I tried to go back to my family at first, but they resented my children and me. One night, my two brothers attacked me. [This is when Irene lost her hand]. I don’t know how I survived. My arm continues to hurt. I struggle with my daily work and need my children to help me.
“I have no family now and no one to support me. The commander found out that I was in Uganda and came to live with us again...at least he was providing food for the children. He died a few years later.”
Help for the future
Susan knows little of this past. Her mum protects her from it. But the horrors of the family’s history still effect their everyday lives. Irene’s lost hand means she cannot work well to provide for the family. The lack of any family support means they have no settled home – they don’t belong anywhere. Without help and support, the violence that took away Irene’s childhood could destroy Susan and her siblings’ childhoods and futures too. When we met Susan she was suffering with malaria – but she didn’t know it. She just knew she was unwell and couldn’t do anything about it.
Photo: Susan, 9, with her family in Uganda
Sometimes, when I feel ill, I’m very sad, because there is nothing I can do. I have to wait for it to go away, because we don’t have pills that I can take. I have had a very bad headache for many days now and I have chills. It is the same for my brothers and sisters.
- Susan, 9
We’re working with Susan and her siblings now. Susan’s receiving malaria treatment and we’re supporting Irene to come to terms with the trauma, violence and fear she’s lived with for so many years. We’d like to help the family find a permanent home, but that’s only going to be possible with the support of our wonderful child sponsors in the UK.
In the meantime, small things can make a big difference to Susan:
“We don’t have any games, but a World Vision worker gave a us a skipping rope. It’s my favourite game now and my first toy that I’ve owned. I can play with all of my siblings. It’s so much fun.”
And she knows that even in hard times, she still has her mum to care for her and to protect her children from their secret past.
“I love my mum very much. She takes care of us. My father has died and we don’t have any other family. But I have my mum.”
Hope for Susan: Carve a Heart
No child should live in fear. Last Halloween people all around the UK showed their support for children in the world’s hardest places, turning one night of fear into a night of hope. They chose to Carve a Heart in their pumpkins as a symbol of hope, light and love, and texted HEART to 70060 to donate £3** to help a child like Susan.
We’re doing it again this year – and you can too. We’ve got creative ideas for your pumpkin carving and other simple ways to support children, like Susan, living in fear. And we’ll be awarding prizes for the most creative heart, so be sure to share it using #carveaheart on Twitter or Instagram. See your entry uploaded to our gallery and vote for your favourites.
*Names have been changed to protect identities.
**This is a charity donation service for World Vision. Texts cost £5 plus your standard
network rate message. World Vision will receive 100% of your donation. If you have
a question about your payment call 0203 282 7863. If you would prefer we didn’t
contact you again in future, text NOCOMMS WORLD VISION to 70060. Charity no
England and Wales (no 285908).