Blog | herowomenrising

66 Years Later: What Remains Cannot Be Taken From Us

Hero Women Rising Founder, Neema Namadamu, reflects on Congo's Independence Day, the legacy of generations shaped by conflict, and the enduring humanity, faith, and hope that continue to define her people. This Independence Day, June 30, was a most challenging one. It was the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s 66th year of Independence from our Belgian colonizers, but we have yet to be able to move from A to B. I was sitting, reflecting, trying to comprehend; really sitting

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Jul 74 min read

From Ashes to Classrooms: Mama Shujaa School Reopens After Attack

So proud of our Mama Shujaa School staff that I just have to share this news!!! As you know, on February 20, 2026, the population of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of Mikenge Camp came under attack by the FARDC, Wazalendo, and Burundian military forces. The population of IDPs fled into the bush and over the next couple of days, made their way to Minembwe Center and Kawele (adjacent village). During the attack by the DRC government forces and its allies, the entire Mi

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May 282 min read

Resilience

For me, born in a remote mountainous region of eastern Congo, an area void of any development – no roads, no electricity, no toilets, no medicine, etc. – contracting polio at the age of two years, having to wait to start school until I was strong enough to vault myself along with the use of a stick, having many constraints on me because of my disability, not to mention the stigma that others were always trying to wrap around me, yet somehow never standing aside, standing back

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Apr 222 min read

Stop the Bombing. Stop the Silence. Eastern DRC Is Crying Out.

Hello friends, In the Minembwe and Itombwe Highlands, I am so sad to tell you that a silent genocide continues to unfold against this terrorized population. Indeed, since the night of Thursday to Friday, February 20, 2026, Mikenge has been stripped of its population following drone and heavy military attacks that continue to ravage the Mikenge area and all the surrounding areas of Minembwe. Mikenge has been an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp from 2019 until now. All a

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Mar 231 min read

Babies, Bombs, and Unbreakable Hope: Voices from Banyamulenge Women

Life continues in the midst of the war situation. You can’t stop life continuing. Women are still having babies. New life is continuing to emerge. There is much suffering, but there is also new life, deep joy and appreciation in the dark moments. It has been a very difficult time for the Banyamulenge with bombings of the civilian population on Saturday and Monday in the early hours of the morning. Then the DRC president’s drones bombed the villages of Mikenke and Rwitsankuk

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Nov 28, 20253 min read