The Healing in Harmony music therapy program is helping to rebuild the lives of trauma survivors around the world. This is Joy's story.

In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Joy (not her real name) is a fifteen-year-old girl who found her way to Panzi Hospital following a vicious attack and abduction. She lost almost her entire family and was taken and held captive by a known militia group at a camp where she was sexually abused daily. Joy thinks she became pregnant when she was raped by three men at the same time.

Joy received medical treatment at Panzi for her pregnancy and injuries sustained from sexual violence. She was diagnosed with PTSD and depression. She said, “Now I have food and a place to stay, but sometimes I feel as though I am in a movie. Images and thoughts of war go through my mind at all times of the day and night.”

Joy stayed at Panzi and eventually gave birth to a baby boy. She was later invited to join the Healing in Harmony program as an outlet for expression and to regain emotional strength.

Together, Make Music Matter’s Lead Therapist, Justin Cikuru, and Lead Music Producer, Georges Mupemba, were able to gently guide Joy through the process of expressing herself through music, at first focusing on her emotions and thoughts associated with her experiences.

During the first Healing in Harmony community concert, Joy performed her song in front of over 300 members of the community, Panzi staff, journalists, and other NGO guests. The beautiful performance was a success, and the crowd sang and danced along, demanding an encore. After the concert, Joy was witnessed holding her baby and kissing it affectionately for the very first time.

A subsequent follow-up with the psychologist team at Panzi confirmed that Joy continues to make strides: her positive, uplifted mood is stable, her improved self-esteem and positive perception of her future continue to trend upwards, and the affection and loving bond with her child remains. Read more about Joy's story.

From survivors of sexual violence in the Congo to Syrian refugee children with disabilities and soon survivors of generational trauma in Indigenous communities at home in Canada, Make Music Matter’s innovative Healing in Harmony program is making a difference in the lives of thousands around the world. Through the power of music, you can help survivors of conflict and trauma to heal, find hope, and transform their lives as well as their community.

We hope you can help us with a donation so we can continue to change lives through music.

Your donation will support the following initiatives:  

• Healing in Harmony in the rural community of Mulamba, DRC - taking a gender transformative approach to advance gender equality

• Healing in Harmony with Fox Lake Cree Nation, Manitoba, Canada - addressing generational trauma after decades of abuse and forced assimilation