The story of Nyota
Hello Friends,
It's been a while since I told myself that I must speak of the history of
this beautiful girl and her mother here with their photos attached.
I think you, like me, are convinced of the beauty of this little girl. She
is pretty and charming just as her name "Nyota Charmante". Nyota is a
Swahili name that means star and Charmante is French and means Charming.
The person who gave her that name was the Archbishop Charles Mbogha of
Bukavu. It is a custom in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the
biological father to name his children. But Nyota has no known father.
In October 2003, Judith Mufungizi Zawadi, an orphan, aged 16, who had been
residing with her older sister, was kidnapped and carried away by the Rwanda
rebels commonly known as Iteramhwe. They went in the forest during an attack
of the rebels to the territory of Irambiza, Kalehe in South Kivu.
She spent two months with the rebels, and each day she was raped by 15 men.
During this period, she ate only meat, and she was not allowed to move.
Towards the end of December, when the kidnappers or rebels moved from one
location to another, she and a group of other people had the chance to
escape. Thus, by chance or luck, she found an ICRC's truck (International
Committee of the Red Cross) passing through the location controlled by
Rwandan rebels. She explained her story of captivity to the driver. He felt
sorry for her and agreed to take the risk to bring her in the ICRC vehicle
under bags, because he was afraid of the rebels who erected barriers and
controlled every vehicle that passed the location.
With the help of God, the driver passed all the barriers with Judith under
the bags, and reached the town of Bukavu.
In January 2004, following weaknesses and different diseases, Judith found
herself hospitalized in the general hospital in Bukavu, where she spent
three months, and during examinations, she was told that she was pregnant.
She was unable to say who was the father.
When the due date arrived, she gave birth to Nyota Charmante. The Archbishop
of Bukavu Charles Mbogha was passing through the general hospital and gave
her the name.
Today, Nyota is 6 years old and is one of the children we support.
Judith Zawadi, her mother, is okay despite continued pain in her back and
lower abdomen. Now her biggest problem is what to say to her daughter when
she asks who her father is. Or she'll ask, "Mom, where is dad?" or "Which
day is Dad coming?"
Life is good but sometimes weird, when in the same community, a child sees
his or her friends playing with their parents and asks questions about where
her father is.
So who knows how long Judith will keep silence with her daughter? Please
help us to help Judith give an answer to Nyota. Nyota calls me Dad, and
when she is beside me, she will hold me close and will not leave me. She is
charming as her name, also cheerful and fun.
Pierre Lokeka
The Coordinator of Centre Kitumaini
Dem. Rep. of Congo
If you would like to correspond
with Nyota or another child who would welcome a friend, please send an email
to Nyota at info@okongo.org, or donate $25 or more towards the support of the children and raped women who are in the Center of Kitumaini. Please click here to DONATE.
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