“Fountain of Life” take shape

NOVOC and its partners are about to roll out a project called ‘Fountain of Life’ on rape crisis in Malawi. Rape and sexual assault continue to be a setback in children’s life and development in Malawi. Very little support is currently available to victims of rape and sexual assault here. In fact, the only trauma counselors in sub-Saharan Africa are in South Africa and Kenya. At present, victims often have to take public transport to the police and hospital, often only to be told that they have to go somewhere else first. Being a victim carries more social stigma than being a perpetrator. The trauma of their experiences stays with victims for the rest of their lives, affecting all of their human relationships, their schoolwork and work, if they manage to find a job. This project aims to turn victims into survivors, starting with a small number of pilots. They will establish a crisis hotline, train ‘comforters’ in the local community, link victims to social services, lawyers, medical officers, counseling and support groups, etc. It is the high time we took charge of our children and protect them against the perpetrators.

Let us all join hands in this worthy cause