“I lost my eye, but I did not lose my vision”- Josina Machel
Nelson Mandela endured and succeeded through a lot of physical and emotional pain in his life. As we reflect on his life and achievements, we need to celebrate that he emerged from years of imprisonment, and abuse but was still able to effect change with love and forgiveness.
Through his life, we learn that, no matter what our circumstances have become, we will need to learn how to be strong. Mandela’s life story teaches us how forgiveness purifies the soul and helps us accept and move forward despite what happens in our lives.
During the July Mandela Centenary, we celebrate those still among us who have shown this type of resilience. One such woman is Josina Machel, who has shown that she is not a victim of domestic violence but a survivor who overcame the obstacle and is looking at the future and not the past. Below is her story:
On 17th October, 2015 during her mother’s birthday celebration, Josina’s life took a different meaning. That night she was badly punched repeatedly by the person who was supposed to love and protect her, her partner, because she wanted to spend a night with her family. She lost an eye! During the ordeal, Josina tried to protect her face but received another punch that immediately ruptured her right eye and left her blinded permanently. The fear and isolation that she experienced that night while she called for help and no one came to help is something that was very threatening to her. She had to go through a healing process that transformed her. She began sharing her story so that other women in similar situations could also get help. In a blog article that was published on 13th February, 2018 by Thrive Global Josina said,
“I miss my eye; I miss how it enabled me to be independent, to do something as simple as grocery shopping or going to the pharmacy. I have to be driven and always need support nearby on my right to help ensure I don’t bump myself or hurt myself while navigating through the aisles. Just the thought of doing shopping, the busy malls and the stocked-up aisles, makes me so anxious that I feel entangled in something that I can’t escape,”
The damage to Josina’s eye is permanent. The retina of her eye erupted in a way that not even modern science can repair. Josina demonstrated her resilience through establishing her organisation Kuhluka Movement which aims to empowering women who are victims of domestic violence. Josina has become an activist offering support and a voice to women who are victims of gender-based violence. She believes she cannot walk the streets without sharing her story because her story counts and will make an impact in the lives of other – hence the truth needs to be told.
“I refuse to be defined as a victim – I am not. I am a survivor and I will make sure that I add my voice to those of many other survivors.”
She encourages other survivors of violence to share their experiences and wants them to know that their lives are valued. Josina urges victims to go through the healing process that allows them to restore all the humiliation and the degradation that one goes through in an abusive relationship.
What change do you want to see happening in your community? You hold the power to ensure that this transformation happens. Take a stand like Nelson Mandela and Josina have and get those wheels of change moving. To learn more about the Graca Machel Trust and the work we are doing with women click here
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