In Pictures

Gallery|Poverty and Development

Sister Angelique’s bakery

In DRC, Roman Catholic nun has helped more than 2,000 women overcome trauma and counter the stigma attached to rape.

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Sister Angelique, a nun from the Democratic Republic of Congo, won the Nansen Award for her work with women and children affected by the war with the Lord's Resistance Army. [Kate Holt/UNHCR]
By Celine Schmitt and Kate Holt
Published On 9 Jun 2015

Dungu, Democratic Republic of Congo – It was a momentous day for the community of Dungu, a small and dusty town in a poverty-stricken and unstable corner of northeast DRC.

Dungu and its surroundings have been affected by attacks at the hands of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Congolese women and girls have been kidnapped, raped, and terrorised during a campaign that has gone on for years.

Sister Angelique Namaika, the 2013 Nansen Refugee Award laureate, has lived in Dungu since 2003.

The 48-year-old Roman Catholic nun has helped more than 2,000 women overcome their trauma, counter the stigma attached to sexual assault, and rebuild their lives. With her prize money, she opened a cooperative bakery last Friday. It will allow her to assist additional displaced women.

“I don’t cry any more like I used to cry before,” said Sister Angelique. “Before I was not able to buy milk for the children because I had no money. Now when I go to the shops, they give me the milk even if I can’t pay immediately, because they know I will pay.

“Now I have only tears of joy. I cry only because I am happy. Before it was even difficult for us to eat. Now with the fields, we eat when we are hungry.”

Bentiu Bakery/ DO NOT USE/ RESTRICTED
The 48-year-old Roman Catholic nun has helped more than 2,000 women overcome their trauma, counter the stigma attached to rape, and rebuild their lives. [Kate Holt/UNHCR]
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Neema, 18, sits on a bed with her baby in the shelter provided by Sister Angelique. Neema was kidnapped by the LRA when she was 14. [Kate Holt/UNHCR]
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Neema came out of the bush two years ago and found she was pregnant. She was rejected by her family and her first baby died. When she gave birth to her second baby, the hospital called Sister Angelique to ask if she could help Neema. Neema now lives at Sister Angelique's house and sells bread at the bakery. [Kate Holt/UNHCR]
Bentiu Bakery/ DO NOT USE/ RESTRICTED
Pascaline, a 43-year-old mother of 12, was forced to flee her home when the LRA attacked the village of Gbaga in 2010. After a two-day walk, she and her family arrived in Dungu. During the attack, three of her children were kidnapped: a 12-year-old daughter, a 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy. The girl managed to escape but the two boys remained in captivity for several years. In 2013, one of her sons, Innocent, then 18, managed to escape and told his mother that his brother had been killed. [Kate Holt/UNHCR]
Bentiu Bakery/ DO NOT USE/ RESTRICTED
Thanks to Sister Angelique's support giving Pascaline a job at the bakery and in the fields, she is able to feed her family, send her children to school and pay for medical care. [Kate Holt/UNHCR]
Bentiu Bakery/ DO NOT USE/ RESTRICTED
Innocent was kidnapped by the LRA in 2010 and spent three years in captivity in the bush. He managed to escape during an attack by the Congolese army in 2013, but he was shot in the hand and it had to be amputated. [Kate Holt/UNHCR]
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Innocent became a motorcycle taxi driver and transports people and goods. Since he lost his hand, he has modified his bike. [Kate Holt/UNHCR]
Bentiu Bakery/ DO NOT USE/ RESTRICTED
Marie, 20, was kidnapped by the LRA when she was 14. She spent eight months in captivity. The LRA killed her stepfather and beat her mother who was pregnant and she lost her baby. She was freed by the Congolese army. After she came back to Dungu, she realised she was pregnant and decided she did not want to keep the baby. Sister Angelique convinced her otherwise, however, and encouraged her to go back to school and enrol in sewing and cooking classes. She now works at the Dungu bakery and gave birth to a second child three months ago. [Kate Holt/UNHCR]
Bentiu Bakery/ DO NOT USE/ RESTRICTED
Women pound cassava in the evening light at the home run by Sister Angelique for women and children affected by the war with the Lord's Resistance Army in Dungu. [Kate Holt/UNHCR]
Bentiu Bakery/ DO NOT USE/ RESTRICTED
Children play together at Sister Angelique's home. [Kate Holt/UNHCR]