{"id":1786,"date":"2026-06-22T21:18:35","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T21:18:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/global-pen-friends\/?p=1786"},"modified":"2026-06-22T22:19:58","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T22:19:58","slug":"voices-of-resilience-india-and-dr-congo-in-conversation-on-gender-equality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.uantwerpen.be\/global-pen-friends\/voices-of-resilience-india-and-dr-congo-in-conversation-on-gender-equality\/","title":{"rendered":"Voices of Resilience: India and DR Congo in Conversation on Gender Equality"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This letter exchange between two students from India and the Democratic Republic of Congo examines gender equality through personal reflections and real-life experiences. It highlights persistent inequalities, cultural norms, and the impact of conflict, while emphasizing resilience, education, and shifting mindsets. Together, the letters underline shared struggles and the importance of dialogue in fostering empathy and meaningful social change.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

LETTER 1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SMRITI SINGH<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hello Horizone,

I hope you are in good health. My name is Smriti Singh and I am from India. I am presently studying in Xavier Institute of Social Service. I am quite thrilled to have been matched under this Global Pen Friends program and I am looking forward to knowing you and listening to about your experiences.

Let me tell you a little about myself. I am a highly motivated and curious person. I love to learn new things and especially in the area of human resource and personal growth. I like knowing people, their behaviours, and how individuals grow in different environments. Apart from academics, I prefer to spend my time thinking, strategizing on what to achieve and work on myself as an individual and as a professional.

India is a highly diverse nation with a blend of cultures, languages, traditions and lifestyles. Each region has got something special to present. We have festivals here that are a large aspect of life, and that unite us in beautiful ways. Simultaneously, as a developing country, we have a number of social issues to discuss as well, and hence, the issue of development and equality are quite topical.

Discussing our common SDG 5 – Gender Equality – this is one of the topics I strongly relate to. The main aim of SDG-5 is to achieve gender equality by 2030, recognising it a fundamental rights. Key focus areas are:

– Ending Discrimination
– Eliminating Harmful Practices
– Economic Empowerment
– Sexual and Reproductive Health
– Unpaid Care and Domestic Work<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my case, gender equality is not about having equal rights in the paper, but on the actual freedom, respect and equal opportunities in the daily life.
There is actually an improvement over the years in India. To take an example, female literacy has been enhanced greatly and nowadays it is approximately 70% +. Women are getting into higher education and professional arenas in large numbers. Nevertheless, even with this development, there are issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. The problem of gap inworkforce participation is one of the major problems. In India, women comprise only about 25 percent of the labor force, indicating that a significant number of women will not receive equal chances to work or will have to focus on household chores. This is an indication of the presence of strong societal expectations in decision making.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. The other issue is the gender pay gap and inequality in the leadership positions. Women are usually hindered with career advancement even when they are educated and competent. Social constraints and safety issues, in most instances, also restrain the freedom and movement of women.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    And simultaneously, a positive change has also been noticed at least by the younger generation. Today, more women are pursuing a career, becoming self-reliant and demanding their rights. Education and social media have been instrumental in raising awareness and changing attitude. In developmental terms, equal gender rights are directly associated with the general development of a nation. Education and employment of women does not only enhance lives of women but also leads to the growth of economy, and improved living standards by families. Global research has indicated that more women in the workforce can greatly increase the GDP of a nation.

    But the actual change is not merely a matter of policies or figures. It is a matter of transformation at the grass root level- the families, communities and in our daily interactions. Even minor measures such as motivating girls to continue with their education, helping them with their professional decisions, and treating them as equals can have a lasting effect.

    Personally, I believe that laws and policies are fundamental, but awareness and mindset change is also required. Real equality will be reached when the society will no longer view gender as a confinement and will be able to see individuals in terms of abilities.
    I would really like to know about your country, DR Congo. How is the situation of gender equality there? What do you consider to be the main challenges and developments? I also would like to learn about your everyday life, culture, and experiences.

    It is an excellent chance that both of us have to learn and understand various visions and learn together. I am eager to receive your response and to continue fruitful dialogues in the future.

    Take care and hoping to hear from you soon.

    Warm regards,
    Smriti Singh<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    LETTER 2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    HORIZONE BALITALIKE

    Bukavu, le 23 avril 2026

    A toi, ma Pen Friend

    Ch\u00e8re Smriti,

    J\u2019esp\u00e8re que tu vas tr\u00e8s bien et que cette lettre te trouve en parfaite sant\u00e9. J\u2019ai \u00e9t\u00e9 vraiment tr\u00e8s heureuse et honor\u00e9e de recevoir ta lettre. Merci beaucoup pour ta belle pr\u00e9sentation, elle m\u2019a profond\u00e9ment touch\u00e9e. C\u2019est un r\u00e9el plaisir pour moi de pouvoir \u00e9changer avec toi \u00e0 travers ce programme Global Pen Friends. C\u2019est m\u00eame une exp\u00e9rience tr\u00e8s sp\u00e9ciale, car c\u2019est la premi\u00e8re fois que j\u2019ai l\u2019occasion de correspondre avec une personne venant de l\u2019Inde, et cela me fait \u00e9norm\u00e9ment plaisir.

    Permets-moi de me pr\u00e9senter \u00e0 mon tour. Je m\u2019appelle Horizone Balitalike, je suis de la R\u00e9publique D\u00e9mocratique du Congo, plus pr\u00e9cis\u00e9ment de la province du Sud-Kivu, \u00e0 l\u2019est du pays, dans la ville de Bukavu. Je fais mes \u00e9tudes en \u00e9conomie rurale \u00e0 l\u2019Universit\u00e9 Catholique de Bukavu. Je m\u2019int\u00e9resse particuli\u00e8rement aux questions de d\u00e9veloppement, surtout celles qui concernent les milieux ruraux, l\u2019agriculture et les conditions de vie des populations.

    En lisant ta lettre, j\u2019ai eu l\u2019impression que nous partageons plusieurs points en commun. Comme toi, j\u2019aime beaucoup apprendre, comprendre les autres et r\u00e9fl\u00e9chir sur la soci\u00e9t\u00e9. J\u2019aime aussi \u00e9crire ce que je pense, analyser les situations et chercher des solutions aux probl\u00e8mes qui nous entourent. Ta mani\u00e8re de penser m\u2019a beaucoup inspir\u00e9e.

    J\u2019ai \u00e9t\u00e9 particuli\u00e8rement impressionn\u00e9e par ta r\u00e9flexion sur l\u2019\u00e9galit\u00e9 de genre. Je suis totalement d\u2019accord avec toi : l\u2019\u00e9galit\u00e9 ne doit pas seulement exister dans les lois ou sur le papier, mais aussi dans la vie quotidienne, dans les comportements, dans les mentalit\u00e9s et dans les relations entre les individus.

    Dans notre pays la R\u00e9publique D\u00e9mocratique du Congo, la situation de l\u2019\u00e9galit\u00e9 de genre reste un grand d\u00e9fi. M\u00eame si des progr\u00e8s ont \u00e9t\u00e9 observ\u00e9s, notamment dans l\u2019acc\u00e8s des filles \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9ducation, la r\u00e9alit\u00e9 quotidienne montre qu\u2019il y a encore beaucoup d\u2019in\u00e9galit\u00e9s.

    Dans les zones rurales surtout, les femmes jouent un grand r\u00f4le dans l\u2019agriculture et dans la gestion des m\u00e9nages. Pourtant, elles ont un acc\u00e8s limit\u00e9 aux ressources comme la terre, le cr\u00e9dit ou certaines opportunit\u00e9s \u00e9conomiques. Tr\u00e8s souvent, elles travaillent beaucoup mais ne b\u00e9n\u00e9ficient pas pleinement des fruits de leur travail.
    Aujourd\u2019hui dans notre pays, surtout dans la partie Est, la r\u00e9alit\u00e9 est encore marqu\u00e9e par des conflits et une ins\u00e9curit\u00e9 qui persistent depuis plusieurs ann\u00e9es. Dans ce contexte, les femmes et les jeunes filles sont celles qui paient le plus lourd tribut. Elles vivent souvent dans la peur, et beaucoup d\u2019entre elles subissent des violences de diff\u00e9rentes formes presque au quotidien. Ce qui est encore plus difficile, c\u2019est que ces violences ne sont pas seulement physiques. Elles sont aussi morales et psychologiques, et laissent des blessures profondes qui ne se voient pas toujours. Cela affecte leur dignit\u00e9, leur confiance en elles et leur capacit\u00e9 \u00e0 se projeter dans l\u2019avenir.

    Personnellement, quand j\u2019observe cette situation, je me dis qu\u2019il est tr\u00e8s difficile de parler d\u2019\u00e9galit\u00e9 de genre dans un environnement o\u00f9 la femme ne se sent pas en s\u00e9curit\u00e9. Car avant m\u00eame de parler d\u2019opportunit\u00e9s ou de droits, il faut d\u2019abord garantir le respect et la protection de la personne. Tant que certaines femmes continuent \u00e0 vivre dans la peur ou dans le silence, l\u2019\u00e9galit\u00e9 reste encore un objectif \u00e0 atteindre plut\u00f4t qu\u2019une r\u00e9alit\u00e9.

    Un autre probl\u00e8me important concerne la r\u00e9partition des r\u00f4les dans la soci\u00e9t\u00e9. Dans notre contexte, certaines t\u00e2ches ou responsabilit\u00e9s sont encore consid\u00e9r\u00e9es comme r\u00e9serv\u00e9es aux hommes, simplement parce qu\u2019ils sont des hommes. Pourtant, aujourd\u2019hui, je ne vois pas ce qu\u2019un homme peut faire qu\u2019une femme ne puisse pas faire.

    Je peux m\u00eame dire, \u00e0 partir de ce que j\u2019observe dans la vie quotidienne, que les femmes font \u00e9norm\u00e9ment d\u2019efforts. Par exemple, dans un couple o\u00f9 les deux travaillent, l\u2019homme se concentre souvent uniquement sur son travail professionnel. Mais la femme, en plus de son travail, doit s\u2019occuper des t\u00e2ches m\u00e9nag\u00e8res, pr\u00e9parer \u00e0 manger, organiser la maison et parfois m\u00eame s\u2019occuper des enfants. Elle se r\u00e9veille tr\u00e8s t\u00f4t et se couche tard. Cela montre \u00e0 quel point les femmes sont fortes et capables. Et donc, les femmes et les hommes n\u2019occupent pas les m\u00eames positions dans les syst\u00e8mes \u00e9conomiques et sociaux. Les femmes, en particulier, assument une grande partie du travail domestique et reproductif, tout en participant activement aux activit\u00e9s productives. Cette double charge influence fortement leur capacit\u00e9 \u00e0 s\u2019engager dans certaines activit\u00e9s \u00e9conomiques.

    Il existe aussi des st\u00e9r\u00e9otypes dans le monde professionnel. Par exemple, dans plusieurs entreprises ici chez nous, on retrouve souvent les femmes \u00e0 la caisse, parce que beaucoup de gens pensent qu\u2019elles g\u00e8rent mieux l\u2019argent que les hommes. Pourtant, ce n\u2019est pas une v\u00e9rit\u00e9 absolue. Il y a des hommes tr\u00e8s comp\u00e9tents dans ce domaine, tout comme des femmes. Ce type de mentalit\u00e9 constitue \u00e9galement un obstacle au v\u00e9ritable d\u00e9veloppement.

    Cependant, malgr\u00e9 ces d\u00e9fis, je garde beaucoup d\u2019espoir. J\u2019ai eu une exp\u00e9rience qui m\u2019a marqu\u00e9e lors d\u2019une enqu\u00eate de terrain que j\u2019ai r\u00e9alis\u00e9e \u00e0 Kamanyola, dans le territoire de Walungu. Nous avions pos\u00e9 une question sur l\u2019\u00e9galit\u00e9 de genre \u00e0 un groupe de paysans. Une femme a pris la parole et a expliqu\u00e9 que, dans leur village, les choses commencent \u00e0 changer. Les femmes ont maintenant plus de responsabilit\u00e9s, elles participent aux d\u00e9cisions, et leurs maris les soutiennent davantage. Elle a dit qu\u2019elles n\u2019ont plus peur comme avant. Ce t\u00e9moignage m\u2019a vraiment touch\u00e9e et m\u2019a donn\u00e9 de l\u2019espoir pour l\u2019avenir.

    Je pense sinc\u00e8rement que le d\u00e9veloppement de notre soci\u00e9t\u00e9 passe par l\u2019\u00e9galit\u00e9 entre les hommes et les femmes. Si l\u2019on commence \u00e0 valoriser les comp\u00e9tences des individus au lieu de se baser sur leur genre, nous pourrons constr
    uire une soci\u00e9t\u00e9 plus juste et plus d\u00e9velopp\u00e9e.

    En dehors de ces r\u00e9flexions, ma vie quotidienne est assez simple. Je consacre beaucoup de temps \u00e0 la lecture, \u00e0 la r\u00e9flexion et \u00e0 l\u2019analyse des questions de d\u00e9veloppement. J\u2019aime aussi d\u00e9couvrir les r\u00e9alit\u00e9s d\u2019autres pays et comprendre comment les soci\u00e9t\u00e9s \u00e9voluent. J\u2019ai \u00e9galement beaucoup appr\u00e9ci\u00e9 ton int\u00e9r\u00eat pour les ressources humaines et le d\u00e9veloppement personnel. Je trouve cela tr\u00e8s inspirant. J\u2019aimerais beaucoup en apprendre davantage sur tes \u00e9tudes, ton parcours et tes ambitions futures.
    Je te remercie encore pour ta lettre. C\u2019est une tr\u00e8s belle opportunit\u00e9 pour nous de partager nos id\u00e9es, nos exp\u00e9riences et d\u2019apprendre l\u2019une de l\u2019autre. J\u2019attends avec impatience ta prochaine r\u00e9ponse.
    Prends bien soin de toi et reste toujours motiv\u00e9e dans tout ce que tu fais.

    Avec toute mon amiti\u00e9,
    Horizone Balitalike
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    LETTER 3<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    SMRITI SINGH<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Dear Horizone,

    I hope you are doing well. I’d like to start this letter off by thanking you once more for your beautiful response. Your words have been a gift to me for many days. I could read your honesty, intelligence, and caring in every paragraph. Your reflections and experiences got me thinking about gender equality, but in addition, gender parity and the silent battles fought by women around the world. Your comments on women living in fear and insecurity in conflict-stricken areas really resonated with me. It occurred to me how hard it is to think of equality when you don’t have basic safety and dignity. I am in awe of your courage and hope. Despite the hardships you have seen, you have faith in change and development. Just that attitude is a force to reckon with. Your letter also prompted me to think consciously about what is happening in India. While in India people see economic growth, technological advancements, education, and culture, outside India many people see only this, but amid all this growth, there are still deep-rooted social issues that continue to impact women, particularly in rural and conservative communities. In many places in India, even today, giving birth to a girl child is viewed as a burden\/disappointment. It is a joyous and proud occasion for families when their son is born, but when their daughter is born, it can be awkward, pitied, or even cause concern. Even though the sex of the child is not decided by the mother, women are held responsible for having a girl in their homes in some families by either the women or other people in the family. This is sad because it demonstrates how strong patriarchy is in society. In some families, if they have a daughter, they have more children until they get a son. The desire for a boy is linked to traditional notions, which hold that after the parents’ deaths, boys will inherit the family name, support the parents, and inherit property. The daughters are known as \u201ctemporary members\u201d of the family because when they get married, they are expected to move away from their parents. What hurts me even more is that there is female foeticide in some villages and backward regions so much so that it is illegal. In some families, daughters are aborted in secret since the family does not desire them. Visualize a child losing her right to life even before she has breathed her first due to her gender. I am very disturbed by this reality when I think of it. I wonder, how can society use the term \u201cgoddesses\u201d for the festivals and at the same time fail to show basic respect and value to real women and girls in their daily lives? One of the other hurting things is the way girls are raised differently from boys as early as childhood. Boys have more freedom, are better educated, are afforded more opportunities, and are taught sacrifice, adjustment, and silence in many homes. While it may be OK for a boy to be out late, it may not be OK for a girl. Sons are encouraged to dream big and make it happen, daughters are chided for not being \u201climited\u201d. This gap gradually impacts self-confidence, independence and self-worth. In an educated family, there is sometimes hidden discrimination. Although a woman can be educated and gain a career, society still expects her to run the whole household by herself. She may be seen as the selfish one if she focuses her career, or she may be considered the dutiful one if she has to forgo her career. Women are always juggling with the demands from all corners without much appreciation. On the other hand, I also happen to think that change is a slow process, particularly among the younger generation. Today there are more girls attending school, earning a living and voicing their rights and dreams. Social media, awareness campaigns, and education is changing the way people think. Many men are also waking up to the idea that equality doesn’t make society lesser. Many men are also waking up to the fact that equality does not make society lesser. In my own experience, the most difficult combat is not only against laws or systems but against mindsets that are passed down through generations. So shall it be when the day comes that the father will rejoice at the birth of his daughter as he would at the birth of his son. When the day comes that the father will rejoice at the birth of his daughter as he will at the birth of his son, then will come real equality. It will start when girls are not afraid of anything but confident. It will start when a woman’s value is no longer determined solely by marriage, sacrifice, and motherhood but when she is seen as an individual and as a human being with her own talent and value. I was given hope today with your story about the woman from Kamanyola because it reminded me that change can begin in a quiet way in families and communities. In the same way, I have noticed tiny changes around me which are significant. Nowadays parents are proud of their daughters’ education and career. Females are rising to the top of the business world, politics, and professional positions heretofore barred from women. These changes might appear to be slow, but they are certainly significant indicators of improvement.

    I sometimes wonder if everywhere in the world women may live in different cultures and situations, but that there are many common struggles: to be heard, respected, safe, and treated equally. They are also very strong. Women are continuing to be the backbone of families, the creators of communities, survivors of adversity, and keepers of hope. That is a real badge of honour and belongs to that strength and not to this. I would also like to remind you that this exchange has been a lot more significant to me than I thought. I learned about your country through your words, but also about resilience, humanity, and courage. It was a wonderful reminder to me that conversations like ours are crucial because they enable us to gain insight into what is happening in other countries and to have empathy for each other.

    I would like to truly thank you for so openly sharing your thoughts and experiences with me. Although I am from a different race and background, I felt I knew you when I read your words. I will never forget the truth, the wisdom, and the hope you still carry with you in the face of difficulties. I really think you can positively impact the people around you. Your sensitivity to society and your awareness of development are very inspirational. Keep talking, learning, and believing in a better future for this world\u2014voices like yours are needed. I hope that one day both our societies are places where women and men are valued equally, not just in law, but in the home, community, workplace, and heart. If half the population is still going to war for dignity and respect there can be no real progress in a society.

    Take care of yourself, Horizone. Keep on shining so brightly, as in your letter, with courage and kindness. I will never forget this lovely exchange that we shared.

    In warmly wishing you, respectfully, and with sincere friendship,
    Smriti Singh
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    LETTER 4<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    HORIZONE BALITALIKE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ch\u00e8re Smriti,

    J\u2019esp\u00e8re sinc\u00e8rement que tu vas bien. J\u2019ai lu ta lettre avec \u00e9norm\u00e9ment d\u2019attention et d\u2019\u00e9motion. Honn\u00eatement, je pense que c\u2019est l\u2019une des lettres les plus profondes que j\u2019ai eu l\u2019occasion de lire. En parcourant chacun de tes paragraphes, j\u2019ai ressenti non seulement ton intelligence et ta sensibilit\u00e9, mais aussi une grande honn\u00eatet\u00e9 dans la mani\u00e8re dont tu regardes la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 indienne et les r\u00e9alit\u00e9s v\u00e9cues par les femmes autour de toi.

    Tes mots m\u2019ont beaucoup touch\u00e9, particuli\u00e8rement lorsque tu as parl\u00e9 de la mani\u00e8re dont certaines familles consid\u00e8rent encore la naissance d\u2019une fille comme une d\u00e9ception. M\u00eame si nos cultures sont diff\u00e9rentes, plusieurs r\u00e9alit\u00e9s que tu d\u00e9cris existent aussi, sous d\u2019autres formes, dans notre pays la R\u00e9publique D\u00e9mocratique du Congo. Cela m\u2019a fait r\u00e9fl\u00e9chir \u00e0 quel point les femmes, partout dans le monde, portent souvent des blessures silencieuses que beaucoup de soci\u00e9t\u00e9s ne voient pas toujours.

    Tu sais, en RDC, la question de l\u2019\u00e9galit\u00e9 entre les hommes et les femmes est extr\u00eamement complexe. C\u2019est un sujet qui me touche personnellement parce qu\u2019en \u00e9tudiant l\u2019\u00e9conomie rurale, j\u2019ai \u00e9t\u00e9 amen\u00e9 \u00e0 observer directement les conditions de vie des populations, surtout dans les villages et les zones affect\u00e9es par les conflits. Plus j\u2019avan\u00e7ais dans mes recherches et dans mes exp\u00e9riences de terrain, plus je comprenais que les femmes jouent un r\u00f4le immense dans notre soci\u00e9t\u00e9, mais que leur contribution reste souvent peu reconnue.

    La RDC vit aujourd\u2019hui une sorte de contradiction. D\u2019un c\u00f4t\u00e9, notre Constitution reconna\u00eet officiellement l\u2019\u00e9galit\u00e9 entre les hommes et les femmes. Il existe aussi des lois qui encouragent la participation des femmes dans la vie politique et publique. Th\u00e9oriquement, les femmes ont les m\u00eames droits que les hommes : elles peuvent \u00e9tudier, travailler, voter, poss\u00e9der des biens et participer \u00e0 la politique.

    Mais lorsqu\u2019on quitte les textes pour regarder la r\u00e9alit\u00e9 quotidienne, les choses deviennent beaucoup plus compliqu\u00e9es. Les femmes restent encore sous-repr\u00e9sent\u00e9es dans plusieurs espaces de d\u00e9cision. Beaucoup d\u2019entre elles ont difficilement acc\u00e8s aux ressources \u00e9conomiques, aux terres agricoles ou \u00e0 certaines opportunit\u00e9s professionnelles. Pourtant, paradoxalement, ce sont elles qui assurent une grande partie du fonctionnement des familles et des communaut\u00e9s.

    En milieu rural surtout, les femmes travaillent \u00e9norm\u00e9ment. Elles cultivent les champs, transportent les r\u00e9coltes, s\u2019occupent des enfants, pr\u00e9parent les repas, cherchent de l\u2019eau, entretiennent les maisons et participent parfois au petit commerce. Pourtant, malgr\u00e9 tout ce travail, elles restent souvent d\u00e9pendantes \u00e9conomiquement parce qu\u2019elles ne contr\u00f4lent pas r\u00e9ellement les ressources qu\u2019elles contribuent \u00e0 produire.

    C\u2019est quelque chose qui m\u2019a profond\u00e9ment marqu\u00e9 pendant mes recherches. Dans certaines familles, les hommes poss\u00e8dent officiellement les terres alors que ce sont principalement les femmes qui y travaillent quotidiennement. Plusieurs statistiques montrent m\u00eame qu\u2019en RDC, la majorit\u00e9 des terres agricoles appartient aux hommes alors que les femmes repr\u00e9sentent une grande partie de la main-d\u2019oeuvre agricole. Quand on observe cela, on comprend que les in\u00e9galit\u00e9s ne commencent pas seulement dans les institutions, mais souvent \u00e0 l\u2019int\u00e9rieur m\u00eame des structures familiales et sociales.

    Tu as parl\u00e9 dans ta lettre de la mani\u00e8re diff\u00e9rente dont les filles et les gar\u00e7ons grandissent en Inde. Ici aussi, cette diff\u00e9rence existe \u00e9norm\u00e9ment. D\u00e8s l\u2019enfance, beaucoup de filles apprennent les t\u00e2ches m\u00e9nag\u00e8res tandis que les gar\u00e7ons re\u00e7oivent davantage de libert\u00e9. Dans certaines familles, lorsqu\u2019il faut choisir quel enfant pourra poursuivre ses \u00e9tudes faute de moyens, le gar\u00e7on est parfois privil\u00e9gi\u00e9 parce qu\u2019on consid\u00e8re qu\u2019il repr\u00e9sentera plus tard \u00ab l\u2019avenir de la famille \u00bb.

    Je pense sinc\u00e8rement que beaucoup d\u2019in\u00e9galit\u00e9s naissent d\u00e9j\u00e0 \u00e0 ce niveau-l\u00e0. Une fille qui re\u00e7oit moins d\u2019\u00e9ducation aura souvent moins d\u2019autonomie financi\u00e8re plus tard. Cette d\u00e9pendance \u00e9conomique peut ensuite limiter sa capacit\u00e9 \u00e0 prendre certaines d\u00e9cisions importantes dans sa vie. C\u2019est un cercle qui se reproduit silencieusement de g\u00e9n\u00e9ration en g\u00e9n\u00e9ration.

    Ce qui rend encore la situation plus difficile dans l\u2019Est de la RDC, ce sont les conflits arm\u00e9s. Comme tu l\u2019as tr\u00e8s bien dit dans ta lettre, il est difficile de parler d\u2019\u00e9galit\u00e9 lorsqu\u2019il manque d\u00e9j\u00e0 la s\u00e9curit\u00e9 et la dignit\u00e9 humaine. Depuis plusieurs ann\u00e9es, les guerres et les violences ont profond\u00e9ment affect\u00e9 les populations de notre r\u00e9gion. Et malheureusement, les femmes en sont souvent les premi\u00e8res victimes. Les violences sexuelles li\u00e9es aux conflits ont marqu\u00e9 l\u2019histoire de l\u2019Est du Congo pendant des d\u00e9cennies. Beaucoup de femmes ont v\u00e9cu des traumatismes extr\u00eamement lourds. Le plus douloureux est peut-\u00eatre le fait que certaines violences finissent parfois par \u00eatre banalis\u00e9es dans certaines communaut\u00e9s \u00e0 force d\u2019\u00eatre r\u00e9p\u00e9t\u00e9es. Cette r\u00e9alit\u00e9 me fait souvent r\u00e9fl\u00e9chir \u00e0 la mani\u00e8re dont la violence peut progressivement d\u00e9truire non seulement les corps, mais aussi les mentalit\u00e9s et les relations sociales.

    Malgr\u00e9 tout cela, je pense aussi qu\u2019il faut garder une vision \u00e9quilibr\u00e9e de la question de l\u2019\u00e9galit\u00e9. Personnellement, je ne crois pas que l\u2019\u00e9galit\u00e9 signifie une opposition entre les hommes et les femmes. Je ne pense pas qu\u2019il faille diminuer les hommes pour valoriser les femmes. Pour moi, l\u2019\u00e9galit\u00e9 signifie simplement que chaque personne m\u00e9rite les m\u00eames droits, les m\u00eames opportunit\u00e9s et la m\u00eame dignit\u00e9 humaine. Et heureusement, je vois aussi des \u00e9volutions positives dans notre soci\u00e9t\u00e9. Beaucoup d\u2019hommes congolais soutiennent aujourd\u2019hui davantage l\u2019\u00e9ducation des filles et encouragent leurs \u00e9pouses ou leurs filles \u00e0 travailler et \u00e0 devenir ind\u00e9pendantes. Dans les villes, les mentalit\u00e9s changent progressivement, surtout chez les jeunes g\u00e9n\u00e9rations.
    Aujourd\u2019hui, davantage de femmes acc\u00e8dent aux universit\u00e9s, occupent des postes importants et participent davantage \u00e0 la vie publique. Nous avons m\u00eame actuellement une femme Premi\u00e8re ministre, Judith Suminwa Tuluka, ce qui repr\u00e9sente un symbole important pour beaucoup de jeunes filles du pays. Il existe aussi de nombreuses associations f\u00e9minines qui travaillent sur les violences bas\u00e9es sur le genre, l\u2019\u00e9ducation des filles et l\u2019autonomisation \u00e9conomique des femmes.

    Je pense personnellement que la vraie transformation viendra principalement de plusieurs choses. D\u2019abord, l\u2019\u00e9ducation des filles. Une fille instruite peut transformer non seulement sa propre vie, mais aussi celle de toute sa famille et parfois m\u00eame de toute une communaut\u00e9. Ensuite, l\u2019autonomie \u00e9conomique. Une personne qui d\u00e9pend totalement des autres financi\u00e8rement devient souvent plus vuln\u00e9rable face aux abus ou aux injustices. Je pense aussi que les lois seules ne suffisent pas. Les changements les plus difficiles concernent souvent les mentalit\u00e9s. Les traditions et les habitudes sociales mettent parfois beaucoup de temps \u00e0 \u00e9voluer. C\u2019est pourquoi les conversations comme les n\u00f4tres sont importantes : elles permettent de r\u00e9fl\u00e9chir autrement et de voir le monde avec davantage d\u2019empathie.

    Tu as \u00e9crit quelque chose qui m\u2019a profond\u00e9ment marqu\u00e9 : le jour o\u00f9 un p\u00e8re sera aussi heureux de la naissance de sa fille que de celle de son fils, alors la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 aura r\u00e9ellement chang\u00e9. Honn\u00eatement, je trouve cette phrase tr\u00e8s forte. Elle r\u00e9sume beaucoup de choses.

    Moi aussi, j\u2019ai parfois l\u2019impression que malgr\u00e9 les diff\u00e9rences de cultures entre nos pays, les femmes partagent souvent les m\u00eames combats : \u00eatre respect\u00e9es, prot\u00e9g\u00e9es, \u00e9cout\u00e9es et reconnues \u00e0 leur juste valeur. Pourtant, elles continuent d\u2019\u00eatre incroyablement fortes. En RDC, ce sont souvent les femmes qui maintiennent les familles debout malgr\u00e9 les guerres, la pauvret\u00e9 et les difficult\u00e9s \u00e9conomiques. Le pays fonctionne en grande partie gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 elles.

    Ton message m\u2019a aussi rappel\u00e9 quelque chose d\u2019important : l\u2019espoir existe encore. Les changements sont peut-\u00eatre lents, mais ils existent. Les jeunes g\u00e9n\u00e9rations r\u00e9fl\u00e9chissent diff\u00e9remment. De plus en plus de personnes commencent \u00e0 comprendre qu\u2019une soci\u00e9t\u00e9 ne peut pas r\u00e9ellement se d\u00e9velopper si une partie de sa population reste marginalis\u00e9e.

    Je voudrais \u00e9galement te remercier sinc\u00e8rement pour cet \u00e9change. \u00c0 travers nos lettres, je d\u00e9couvre non seulement l\u2019Inde, mais aussi une autre mani\u00e8re de voir le monde. Je pense que peu de personnes prennent encore le temps aujourd\u2019hui de discuter aussi profond\u00e9ment des r\u00e9alit\u00e9s humaines et sociales. Pourtant, ce sont ces conversations qui rapprochent v\u00e9ritablement les peuples. Tu m\u2019as aussi beaucoup inspir\u00e9 par ta mani\u00e8re de parler avec autant de compassion et de r\u00e9flexion. On sent dans tes mots une r\u00e9elle volont\u00e9 de comprendre les autres et de construire un monde plus juste. Honn\u00eatement, je pense que des personnes comme toi sont importantes dans notre g\u00e9n\u00e9ration.

    J\u2019esp\u00e8re sinc\u00e8rement qu\u2019un jour nos soci\u00e9t\u00e9s deviendront des endroits o\u00f9 les femmes et les hommes marcheront r\u00e9ellement c\u00f4te \u00e0 c\u00f4te, sans peur, sans discrimination et avec le m\u00eame respect. Parce qu\u2019au final, une soci\u00e9t\u00e9 ne peut pas avancer correctement lorsque la moiti\u00e9 de sa population doit encore lutter pour sa dignit\u00e9.

    Merci encore pour ta magnifique lettre, Smriti. Cet \u00e9change restera certainement l\u2019une des conversations les plus humaines et enrichissantes que j\u2019ai eu l\u2019occasion de vivre.

    Prends bien soin de toi.

    Avec toute mon amiti\u00e9 et mon respect sinc\u00e8re,
    Horizone Balitalike.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    This letter exchange between two students from India and the Democratic Republic of Congo examines gender equality … <\/p>\n

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