A Look at Life at City of Joy
1/18/2012
On February 4th, 2011, V-Day held the opening ceremony for the City of Joy, a revolutionary new community for women survivors of gender violence in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo.
In July, upon completion of the finishing details on four of the houses, the City of Joy opened it’s to the first group 42 women. Since their arrival at the City of Joy, the first group of residents were lodged in the four houses with four rooms each. In September, with the completion of corrections made to some of the structure, women were able to expand into five out of the nine residences.
Each residence is viewed as a communal space and is administered by one burgomaster who is assisted by a ‘policewoman’ in charge of discipline. Rooms are considered to be districts. The representatives of districts in the residences, the policewomen, and the burgomasters form the communal council, and all oversee their upkeep. The mayor of the City of Joy, elected by all residents, is the spokeswoman of all the residents. In this way, the City of Joy has its own local government.
Classes and activities take place from Monday to Friday between 8 AM and 6 PM. Saturday is reserved for tidying the grounds, and Sunday for a free outing.
READ: City of Joy Celebrates First Graduating Class On January 28 >