Education is Healing

Madeline’s community was ravaged by gang violence. She grew up in an area with constant political unrest. When Madeline was in middle school a friend who lived three streets down was kidnapped when coming back from the market, and raped. 

After that event, Madeline feared walking the long road to school, so she studied at home until she eventually dropped out to work full time. As food and fuel prices skyrocketed in her country, making money to survive was more important than education.

Violence continued to escalate in Madeline’s city over the next year. On the way home one day, both of Madeline’s parents were killed in a shooting orchestrated by a powerful gang. Devastated, Madeline was left an orphan and exceptionally vulnerable. 

A Rapha social worker who lived close by was notified of Madeline’s situation and helped facilitate her move to Rapha. Madeline met girls at Rapha who had experienced similar trauma from gang violence. She felt safe with security guards at Rapha’s campus and was able to receive group therapy and individual counseling. Madeline was given a tutor to help her catch up to her grade level and decided she wanted to study to be a social worker so she could help protect children like herself in the future who were vulnerable to exploitation due to violence and political unrest. 

*Madeline’s story represents the experiences of thousands of girls who have received care at Rapha.