Rubumba Buratwa: A woman standing for peace and for the girls of Goma

Featuring Madame Liberata

Written by: Monique Kabanza Sebiguri

There are stories you don’t just read with your eyes. You feel them. They touch something deep inside you.

Madame Liberata’s story is one of those. A simple, real story sometimes painful, but above all full of courage and humanity.

She was born in Rutshuru, in eastern DR Congo, a beautiful land too often marked by conflict. Very early on, she understood that life would not be easy. She witnessed war, displacement, and fear. But instead of being broken by it, she chose to rise. And more than that, she chose to help others rise too.

At the age of 33, in the middle of war, something shifted in her. A quiet but powerful determination was born. She refused injustice. She refused to let women and girls be forgotten. From that moment on, she chose to fight for them.

Her work began on the ground, close to those who were suffering. She supported women who had experienced violence, listening to them and standing by them. She did not see them as victims, but as strong women capable of rebuilding their lives. Step by step, with patience and care, she helped them regain confidence.

Sometimes, her commitment went even further. She opened the doors of her own home. She welcomed children born in painful circumstances, and mothers deeply wounded by life. She shared what little she had. She became a source of comfort, almost like a mother to those who had lost their sense of belonging.

Her leadership is not imposed by force, but by heart. For ten years, she served as an administrator in Rutshuru. Even there, she chose to stay close to the people. She visited schools to speak about the importance of educating girls. She raised awareness in communities about living together in peace. She even dared to speak with those involved in armed conflict, reminding them that peace is always possible.

Then one day, war caught up with her again. In 2022, she was forced to flee. She traveled more than 250 kilometers by motorcycle to reach Goma. It was long, dangerous, exhausting. But she did not stop. She kept going, because giving up was never an option for her.

A few months later, she became the president of a network of women working for peace. As if to show that even in the darkest moments, it is still possible to move forward.

Today, her work has taken a new direction through her role as an advisor with CODE HER RDC. She works with young girls in Goma, girls who are growing up in a difficult environment, yet carry incredible strength within them.

She truly believes in them. She sees their potential. She knows they can become leaders.

With them, she speaks about self-confidence, leadership, and finding their voice. She encourages them develop digital and technological skills, because she understands that the world is changing and these girls must not be left behind. She creates spaces where they can learn, share, and dream.

For her, technology is not a luxury. It is an opportunity. A door that can open.

As she says so simply: “Digital technology gives girls a key. It is up to them to open the doors that have long been closed to them.”

In a city like Goma, marked by crisis, these efforts are deeply meaningful. They help reduce inequalities, but also restore hope. Because despite everything, the girls of Goma keep moving forward. They stay strong. They are learning to make their voices heard.

Madame Liberata also reminds us that women’s rights should not be celebrated only one day a year. They must be defended every day, through small actions and big commitments. Giving a voice to young girls, truly listening to them, and building with them takes courage.

She expresses it with simple but powerful words: “Building the future means daring to believe in the strength of girls, even when everything seems against them.”

Her story is not perfect. It is marked by loss, pain, and difficult moments. But that is exactly what makes it so real. So human.

It is the story of a woman who never gave up.

A woman who chose to care, to support, and to build, even when everything around her was falling apart.

Today, honoring her is not only about telling her story. It is about continuing what she started. It is about believing in the strength of the girls of Goma. It is about giving them real opportunities. It is about reminding them that they matter.

Because in the end, Madame Liberata teaches us something essential: even in the hardest moments, we can always choose to remain human, to reach out to others, and to build a future with courage.