"RM, a young 14-year-old girl, found herself a survivor of sexual violence and became pregnant unexpectedly. Overwhelmed by fear, uncertainty, and societal pressure, she often cried and felt unprepared to face the situation as she was still young. She had lost hope and considered dropping out of school because of the trauma.

Adding to her distress, her home life was tense as her mother had been threatened by the defendant in her case and now, she had increased pressure and trauma fearing for her mother’s safety. These events further isolated RM as nobody seemed to understand and she could see the different experiences others were living compared to her. One of her coping mechanisms was to stop communicating with others.

Due to these violations of human rights and gender-based violence, service providers like Centro Esperança Ba Feto (CEF), who support many survivors through the referral pathway that incorporates law enforcement, health care workers, and legal aid providers, were able to welcome her into the shelter. Responding to RM's needs, CEF staff employed various strategies, including counseling, engaging her in activities, providing motivation, and utilizing trauma-informed approaches, taught to them by the Hamutuk ba Igualdade project, funded by KOICA. These tools facilitated the CEF staff in providing specific and targeted support to RM where she was able to mentally prepare for her current situation and be supported by CEF in accessing the legal system.

RM experienced a newfound joy as she successfully gave birth to her child. Thanks to the support and interventions from CEF and other service providers, RM regained her mental resilience and became an active participant in life, working collaboratively in teams and enjoying time with her baby. Her transformation into a courageous individual and a role model among her peers stands as a testament to the effectiveness of the CEF's efforts and the whole referral network in supporting gender-based violence survivors."