DRC: To You, My Beloved Daughter

In a poetic letter to her daughter, Esther imagines a future where technology has helped women eradicate gender injustice.

Technology has given us freedom of expression and the chance to be heard worldwide.

I am writing this letter to you, my beloved daughter, so that you may know —

To you, my beloved daughter:



Now, we are living in a generation of equal opportunities for men and for women.

But know that in my time there was violation of women’s rights.



I am writing this letter to you so that you will know where we come from.

To you, my beloved daughter:

Your mom is of a generation where women were considered less than men.

Your mom comes from a generation where being born a woman was considered ill luck.

She comes from a generation where women’s futures were sacrificed for the happiness of men,

where women suffered immense violence.



I am writing this letter to you so that you will know where we come from.

To you, my beloved daughter:

Your mom is from the Democratic Republic of Congo,

a country whose history was marred by violence.

Your mom is of a generation that was defined mostly by poverty,

poverty that deprived her of the right to attend college.

But I am writing this letter to you, my beloved daughter.



To you, my beloved daughter:

Your mom suffered physical and verbal abuse;

they told her that she would end up like her ancestors, that she was shabby.

Your mom has experienced circumstances where she was forced to exchange her body for certain benefits.

Your mom refused to define herself according to that generation of injustice.

I am writing this letter to you so that you understand where we come from.



To you, my beloved daughter:

Your mom discovered a friend who changed her life.

That friend gave everything to help your mom break free of her comfort zone.

Your mom attended university thanks to that friend’s support;

thanks to that friend, women's lives have changed now forever.

I am writing this letter to you, my beloved daughter.



To you, my beloved daughter:



This friend is called “Technology”.

Women leaders across the world used technology as a strategy to uplift those around them.

Your mom joined in and used technology to transform generations.



I'm writing this letter so that you know where we come from.

To you, my beloved daughter:

Do you remember the stories I have told you of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Your mom comes from a generation when humanity was struck by a great pandemic.

Your mom and everyone the world over were forced to stay at home.

Your mom could no longer gather with people or walk outside during that season.

Your mom used technology to have something to feed you.

Your mom used technology and social networks to meet with others and to strategize.

I am writing this letter to you, my beloved daughter.



To you, my beloved daughter:

I would like you to know that technology will always be there to meet many of your needs.

Technology has allowed us to speak out against gender-based violence;

Technology has allowed us to reduce poverty and unemployment;

Technology has given us freedom of expression and the chance to be heard worldwide.

Never shy away from technology—because it will always have an answer!

I am writing this letter to you, my beloved daughter, so that you may know —

STORY AWARDS

This story was published as part of World Pulse's Story Awards program. We believe every woman has a story to share, and that the world will be a better place when women are heard. Share your story with us, and you could receive added visibility, or even be our next Featured Storyteller! Learn more.