City of Joy – Stories of great harm and great healing
/By Catherine Dauphinais-Oba
The City of Joy documentary is both an account of tragedy, devastation, torture, and loss and a chronicle of healing, rebirth, redemption, and love. It tells of the impact of “conflict minerals,” much sought after by multinational corporations for use in our everyday electronic devices. Companies hire militias to guard the mines, other armed groups also vie for control of the minerals, and the resulting armed conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo have destroyed village life.
Resilience
The film tells the story of rape and torture as weapons of war. It tells the stories of the women who have suffered and endured hellish experiences, as well as their brave journey through healing to a new, empowered sense of self. It tells the stories of the doctor and advocate who created a safe place for these women to heal, body and soul, and to recover and transform after their experiences. It is a story of human resilience over extreme adversity. It is a story of hope amid pain and loss.
A Safe Haven
The center, named City of Joy, is in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It was created by Dr. Denis Mukwege, a Congolese ob/gyn and Nobel Peace Prize winner, and a Congolese woman, Christine Schuler Deschryver, both devastated by the ongoing violence in their country. City of Joy is a refuge, a safe haven for victims of sexual violence in the DRC. It is a place of healing, love, restoration, job skill development and leadership training. By the end of the program, the women are prepared to return to their communities as leaders.
Advocates and Healers
Dr. Mukwege spends his days at nearby Panzi Hospital conducting surgery on rape victims, working to repair the women’s horribly injured genitals. He speaks the world over about rape being used as a weapon of war and shares stories of the countless victims that come to Panzi. Deschryver is administrator, advocate, teacher, mentor and overall inspiration at City of Joy.
It is clear their work at City of Joy has taken its toll on them. However, it is also obvious they are both driven, inspired, and determined to help these women heal and grow, and return to their communities better equipped to move forward in their lives, and, hopefully, to inspire others to do the same. City of Joy also depicts American Eve Ensler, author of The Vagina Monologues, as a valued partner of City of Joy. Ensler is instrumental in raising funds to support the mission of City of Joy.
From Victim to Leader
Jane Mukunilwa’s story plays prominently in City of Joy. Mukunilwa’s injuries were so severe that it was thought she would not survive. Hers is just one of the many horrifying stories that are told, but Mukunilwa now exudes an amazing strength and has become one of the leaders at City of Joy. She is an inspiration to all the women who come there on their own path to recovery and power.
City of Joy is devastating and overwhelming, but the strength of the women portrayed, their determination to go on, and not only survive their trauma but thrive despite it, is inspirational.
NOTE: City of Joy is available for viewing on Netflix. The work at City of Joy is similar to that of Let Africa Live, one of Mwendo Congo’s partners in the DRC.
