For years, Tjedza endured sexual violence at the hands of her father. Clara, an elderly woman, experienced abuse at the hands of her son. And for most of Tabeth’s married life, she bore abuse at the hands of her husband.
These abuses—and many more like them—went unseen for far too long. Yet in rural Zimbabwe, services to support survivors of gender-based violence are often out of reach. Survivors often must travel long distances to seek help, and when they do, they risk facing stigma and blame from the very responders who are meant to protect them.
But today, for survivors like Tjedza, Clara and Tabeth, the years of fear and silence are over.
An initiative in Zimbabwe’s Bubi District, known as Women at the Center, is improving access to essential protection and support services—and improving the quality and delivery of these services as well. Now, when one survivor receives respectful care and protection, others are emboldened to speak out too.
“I only got the confidence to report after seeing how other survivors had received care and were in a much better place,” Tjedza shared.
“This program didn’t just save my life; it gave me back my dignity,” said Clara.
