She Walked from the DRC to SA to Build Freedom: A Story of Hardship, Grit and Resilience
01:19:25 Share

***TRIGGER WARNING: This podcast contains content of a sensitive nature and is not suitable for children. Graphic descriptions of child abuse, sexual violence and drug abuse may be triggering to victims of similar traumas.*****Popina Khumanda is a young African woman who survived a nightmarish childhood in the war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Captured by rebel soldiers at age 5 and her village burned to the ground, Popina endured years of rape and torture before making her escape alongside her sister. As a 10-year-old, she and her sibling walked from the DRC to South Africa in search of freedom. Today, she is a graduate of Nelson Mandela University with a degree in Information Technology, has founded a company that sells high-end hair products, has written her autobiography, *Building freedom +243, *and plans to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Cape Town.In this episode, we bear witness to a story of suffering and survival. From a child slave who was a victim of horrific war crimes to a woman with a warrior mindset, Popina is an incredible example of endurance, overcoming the odds and keeping a dream alive. We were privileged to share her painful life story and challenged by her courage and determination to see our own struggles in a new light.We discuss:

• Popina's village being captured

• The horrific trauma and sexual torture she endured

• Her walk from the DRC to South Africa

• Arriving in South Africa and facing exploitation

• Starting her new life

• The mindset of a warrior

• Subscribe to our YouTube channel) to watch all our episodes, plus bonus weekly video content

• Connect with our host, Yanesh Naidoo, on LinkedIn)

• Become a Facebook) fan of the podcast

• Find us on TikTok)

• Follow us on Instagram)

• Visit our podcast website)

• Learn more about Jendamark)