TRIGGER WARNING: This podcast contains content of a sensitive nature and is not suitable for children. Graphic descriptions of child abuse, sexual violence and drug abuse may be triggering to victims of similar traumas.

Popina Khumanda is a young African woman who survived a nightmarish childhood in the war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Captured by rebel soldiers at age 5 and her village burned to the ground, Popina endured years of rape and torture before making her escape alongside her sister. As a 10-year-old, she and her sibling walked from the DRC to South Africa in search of freedom. Today, she is a graduate of Nelson Mandela University with a degree in Information Technology, has founded a company that sells high-end hair products, has written her autobiography, Building freedom +243, and plans to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Cape Town.

In this episode, we bear witness to a story of suffering and survival. From a child slave who was a victim of horrific war crimes to a woman with a warrior mindset, Popina is an incredible example of endurance, overcoming the odds and keeping a dream alive. We were privileged to share her painful life story and challenged by her courage and determination to see our own struggles in a new light.

We discuss:

• Popina's village being captured
• The horrific trauma and sexual torture she endured
• Her walk from the DRC to South Africa
• Arriving in South Africa and facing exploitation
• Starting her new life
• The mindset of a warrior

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