All photos by Carlos Schuler CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF THE GRADUATES! City of Joy Graduation Marks a milestone for 86 Survivors of Gender-Based Violence in their journey of healing, empowerment, and leadership On July 7, a momentous graduation ceremony was…
Blog: Dispatches from Bukavu and Beyond
Help City of Joy/V-World Farm Receive Matching Funds from Ma Earth. Every Donation Makes a Difference
City of Joy & V-World Farm were chosen from 800 projects worldwide to participate in Ma Earth Funding Round 3 to support community-led regeneration. This is a three-week collective funding campaign open now through 21 July. How can you help…
V’s Birthday Wish: Support Congolese Women, Support the Work of City of Joy
Watch V’s video sharing her birthday wish Today, 25 May, we celebrate the birthday of V (formerly Eve Ensler), visionary artist, activist, founder of V-Day and One Billion Rising, and co-founder of City of Joy. V inspires us each and…
A Blessing, a Center of Rebirth and Love: City of Joy Celebrates 28th Graduation Ceremony
Photo: Carlos Schuler On 19 December 2025, the City of Joy celebrated the graduation of its 28th class, bringing the total number of women whose pain has been transformed into power to 2,407. On this day, 85 women reintegrated into…
From Survivor to Leader in a Time of Conflict: 84 Women Graduate from the City of Joy
Photo: Carlos Schuler It was with emotion that the City of Joy concluded our 27th training session in women’s leadership and emotional healing on 27 June. Since the opening of the City of Joy, a total of 2,322 young women…
Ambassadors of Peace and Advocates for Women, the Displaced & Exploited: 82 Young Women Graduate from City of Joy
FROM VICTIM TO SURVIVOR TO LEADER: 82 YOUNG WOMEN GRADUATE FROM THE CITY OF JOY IN CONGO “WE ARE AMBASSADORS OF PEACE AND ADVOCATES FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS, THE DISPLACED, AND ALL THOSE EXPLOITED BY THE LOOTERS OF MINERAL RESOURCES” On…
A TRANSFORMATION ENGINE, A HEALING OASIS AND A PLACE OF JOY – THE 25TH CLASS GRADUATES FROM CITY OF JOY
Photo: Patrick Lwaboshi 28 June marked the completion of training in women’s leadership and emotional healing for 89 residents of the City of Joy who have been recruited to transform their pain into power. Since January, this 25th graduating class…
Turning Pain to Power, Christine Schuler Deschryver’s TED Talk on City of Joy OUT NOW
Christine Schuler Deschryver’s TED Talk has just been released and is available for viewing. In the talk entitled “The 5 Tenets of Turning Pain into Power,” Christine details how rape is often used as a weapon in the war over…
PRESS RELEASE: OUT NOW: Co-Founder and Director of City of Joy, a Leadership Center for Survivors of Sexual Violence in Democratic Republic of Congo, Gives TED Talk on “Turning Pain Into Power”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, February 23, 2024 CONTACT: media(at)vday.org OUT NOW: Co-Founder and Director of City of Joy, a Leadership Center for Survivors of Sexual Violence in Democratic Republic of Congo, Gives TED Talk on “Turning Pain Into Power” Christine…
2069 WOMEN HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE CITY OF JOY TO DATE
“When They Left City of Joy, Each Woman Left with Her Key, the Key to Her Life” On Monday in Bukavu, 82 women graduated from the City of Joy. The six months of leadership training and healing from post-traumatic stress…
