Restoring dignity through livelihoods The ability to provide for your children and take part in the socio-economic life of the community significantly raises the chances of social inclusion and regaining self-confidence. Therefore, socioeconomic rehabilitation of torture victims is an essential part of holistic rehabilitation. The extreme poverty prevalent in all three countries means that the most vulnerable groups, such as torture victims, are most at risk to fall into a cycle of poverty and social exclusion. This in turn aggravates trauma and jeopardises the individual’s rehabilitation process. In addition, the majority of victims lost their assets and wanted to rebuild their businesses. For example, in the Ngoma District in Eastern Rwanda, many victims chose goats as part of their income activities, as they are cheaper to take care of and their offspring can be passed on to other families in need. I was working on my fields when they raped me. I was beaten and left to die. It was too difficult for me to return to the fields, and so I couldn’t be responsible for my family. I was not considered a person anymore by the community, everyone was talking bad about me at me and blaming me for what happened. AVVDH took care of me and brought me to a hospital in Uvira. When I returned to the village they supported me to work again and re-assume my life. Those people who pointed fingers at me are now the first to come and ask for my advice. S.W., 70 years old, South Kivu, the DRC Restoring a person’s socio-economic status can break the cycle of stigmatisation and exclusion victims may be trapped in. It restores a person’s social capital by giving them the chance to help others in need, which in turn leads to a greater bond with the community. After medical, psychological and sometimes legal support, victims benefit from a combination of community-based social counselling and income generating activities. The project ran several trainings on income generating activities and group management approaches to allow participants to properly select, manage and sustain their project but also to work together in formal groups recognised by local authorities. The main working areas chosen by the participants were agriculture and animal husbandry, as many live in rural areas and wanted to improve their skills. 16 IRCT Great Lakes Project NUMBER OF INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITY GROUPS 95 WOMEN 2,344 TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 2,982 To identify which kind of income generating activities are most suitable for each individual, a screening process was put in place. An analysis of the community was also carried out to identify whether it was a rural or city setting and which province it was located in, as all of these factors influence the activities available. Once the activity was chosen the individuals were put into groups and received training on group management. This included how to prepare a business plan, elect a committee comprised of a chairperson, secretary and treasurer and assign a role for each group member. They also received training on how to deal with banking, as many people had never dealt with a financial institution. The centre then carried out a baseline analysis of the group’s income so they could assess their progress and a contract was drawn up outlining the process they needed to follow and what the group would like to achieve. Benchmarks, which the group could be assessed on were also identified. These included monitoring attendance at meetings and the decision-making process. The decision-making process was important as the group, for example in the case of a good harvest, had to decide whether to share the crops or sell them. There were also occasions where they needed to decide whether to diversify their product, for example whether to sell their maize for human consumption or make it into animal feed, which requires more effort but makes a bigger profit. Training on the specific activity was also given. Those working on agriculture received training by agronomists, and those who chose animal husbandry were trained in how construct a stable and provide appropriate medication for the animals before they received one. MEN 638 The centres also helped groups that wanted to sell their produce, by linking them to suitable markets. The centres put them in contact with buyers in larger towns and cities where they could get the best value for their produce. Initially, centres supported the income generating activity groups with 100 percent of the funding or material they needed, for example land and seeds. This direct financial support was systematically reduced, as the centres supported the groups to become self-sufficient. The process for each group can take up to two years. In Rwanda, many groups became co-operatives recognised by authorities and expanded when other members of the community joined. In Rwanda, one watermelon has the same value as 3kg of maize and has become a popular crop for victims to grow and sell. One of the project’s success stories was the introduction of watermelon farming in Rwamagana, Rwanda. Watermelon is an ideal cash crop to export, as it takes just three months to harvest; and one watermelon has the same value as 3kg of maize. One victim in particular who started growing watermelon in 2014, harvested two million Rwandan Francs worth in his second season. He is now working full time, has bought his own motor cycle and his business continues to grow. Kitchen garden demonstrations involving other members of the community demonstrated how learning to grow food can restore hope, heal trauma through productive work and help victims feel they are supported and empowered by their communities. In Rwanda a demonstration garden and ranch house was established in Rwamagana, where torture victims could participate in trainings on techniques and farming theory given by the Rwandan Agricultural Board. In Uvira in the DRC, the project supported the establishment of a factory, which produces soap using local ingredients. The factory employs 12 former victims, who are all members of a social counselling group that started in 2013. The project supported the group not only by running a workshop on the production of artisan soap, but also by assisting them in selling their product to local buyers. IRCT Great Lakes Project 17