Christine Schuler Deschryver: The 5 tenets of turning pain into power

The 5 tenets of turning pain into power

A supportive community is the key to cultivating resilience and unlocking healing. Sharing the story of a transformative recovery program for survivors of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, human rights activist Christine Schuler Deschryver details how her team at City of Joy empowers people to reclaim their lives after trauma and turn their pain into power. (This talk contains a graphic story. Discretion is advised.)

Resilience and hope take root when survivors rebuild together. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, nearly 2,000 women who endured devastating sexual violence have graduated from the City of Joy, a sanctuary that turns pain into leadership. There, women learn to heal through farming, art, and sisterhood in an environment shaped by their own vision. The program’s guiding belief is that even the most broken lives can be restored through collective support and creative power.