Dorcas
Dorcas was only 13 years old when Rwandan rebels (FDLR) attacked Kasika-Mwenga, her home village in 2005. One of her sisters was killed in the attack and Dorcas was raped by two of the attackers. She became pregnant. The situation worsened for her family when her father returned from working in the goldmines of Zibo and divorced her mother. Dorcas left for Bukavu to deliver the child. Because of her young age and size--the birth of the boy was very painful and complicated delivery. Her life today is wrought with sadness and confusion over what has happened to her. Still nearly a child herself, she raises the boy with reluctance. ‘’I have never been convinced that I must keep on living with this child,” she says, “because whenever I look at him, whenever he cries ,whenever he falls ill, whenever he asks for bread, sweets, or whatever, he makes me remember how I was unwillingly,painfully and foolishly impregnated and also remember unbearable pains I felt the day I delivered him,spent two months in hospital and today nobody helps me to take care of him. I do not know what he’ll become.‘’ With no other means of support, she is learning to become a seamstress at the workshop in hopes of being able to sustain herself and the child.
Messages to Dorcas
ksherrington@spartans.manchester.edu
March 14, 2009
My friends are raising money for the Kivu Sewing Workshop, so I decided to look at the website and see what the workshop is and what it does. When I read your story, I thought "This must be the strongest girl I've ever heard of." You have been through so much, but you haven't given up. And you are working for a better life. I know that your son will grow to be a strong person like you. I will pray for you and your son every day, and if you follow God, he will take care of you. Please don't ever give up hope.
Your friend,
Katie
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Posted in: news
mememecom@yahoo.com
February 19, 2009
hi dorcas,
my name is merritt. i live in houston texas and kevin sites came to my school and told us to look on this website.I am amazed by your story. You have been through so much pain and fear, i can not even imagine what it would be like to be living in your shoes with all of the difficult decisions you are having to face. I just want for you to know that God is always with you. God has sent you this child for a reason. no body knows what reason but God, and you can only learn from each other as you grow older together. I truely admire your strength, and will pray for your perserverance through your struggles. I am willing to support you in any way that i possibly can. Just let me know.
here are some bible verses that might help you feel better through your journey of life:
ISAIAH 55:12-13.
"For you will go out with joy, and be lead forth with peace; the mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees in the field will clap their hands for you."
JOHN 3:35.
"God, our father loves the son Jesus and has placed everything in his hands"-Dorcas you do not need to worry, God has a very special plan for you, and he loves you so much that he has placed all of your worries and troubles in to his son, Jesus Christ's hands to take control.
if you would like for me to send you a bible if you dont have one i would love to do that for you.
i hope all is well, and i know in my heart that you will be ok, God has everything in controll, all you need to do is sit back and relax, and let him do his job.
-Merritt