Breaking the Silence: Agnes Furaha’s Journey from Violence to Healing

For many women forced to flee their countries, the trauma of displacement is compounded by violence within their homes. Such was the story of Agnes Furaha, a Congolese refugee living in Kyaka II settlement. Behind the daily struggle of survival, she faced physical and sexual abuse from her husband. The violence was relentless, leaving her mentally broken. At her lowest point, Agnes contemplated ending her life.

When Agnes Furaha fled the Democratic Republic of Congo and settled in Kyaka II refugee settlement, she thought she had left violence behind. But inside her own home, she continued to face a different kind of war. Her husband’s physical and sexual abuse left her bruised not only on her body but deep within her spirit. The constant insults, the silence that followed the beatings, and the fear of never being safe in her own home drove Agnes into despair. At one point, she admits, she contemplated taking her own life.

“I felt worthless, like I didn’t matter,” Agnes recalls. “Even in a place of supposed safety, I had no peace.”

But her story took a different turn.

When UGANET introduced the SASA! Methodology in Kyaka II, Agnes decided to attend the training. What she encountered was not just a program, but a lifeline. The sessions helped her see her worth, understand her rights, and recognize that violence was neither normal nor acceptable. “SASA! gave me back my voice,” Agnes recalls.

The transformation did not stop with her. Agnes persuaded her husband and children to join her in the sessions. Slowly, the family dynamic began to shift. Conversations replaced conflict, and understanding replaced fear. At first, her husband resisted. But over time, as he listened to testimonies and engaged in dialogue, something shifted. The man who once used violence as a tool of control began to understand its destruction. He listened to testimonies and engaged in dialogue, something shifted..

Today, Agnes and her husband make decisions together. Violence has given way to harmony, and the home that once felt like a prison now offers peace.

Agnes’ story is one of resilience, but it is also a testament to the power of community-based interventions. SASA! is not just about ending violence; it is about reshaping relationships and restoring dignity.

Her story is more than a personal victory; it is a testament to what happens when communities embrace dialogue and transformation. SASA! not only restored Agnes’s dignity but also reshaped her entire family. In a refugee settlement where many face hidden violence, her journey is a reminder that change begins when silence is broken.

Agnes now encourages other women in Kyaka II to attend sessions, and she uses her own story to show that even in the darkest situations, there can be light.

Her message is simple yet powerful:
 “Violence does not build families; it destroys them. But with knowledge and willingness, peace is possible.”

In Kyaka II, like in many other settlements, such interventions are proving that change is possible. Survivors like Agnes are not just rebuilding their own lives, they are lighting the way for others to step out of silence, reclaim hope, and embrace a future free of violence..