For years, Ezekiel was known in his village for one thing, violence. When he got drunk, he became aggressive and unpredictable. His wife and children lived in fear. Whenever they heard his footsteps approaching the house at night, they would run to the nearest farm and sleep there until morning. Everyone around them knew the pain his family lived through, and Ezekiel himself believed change was impossible.
Everything shifted the day he was invited to join Mvura Nkuvure, the sociotherapy program under Community Based Sociotherapy CBS Rwanda. At first, he resisted, but session after session, something in him softened.
Through the support of the group, he began to see the reality he had been avoiding. he identified the problems he was causing at home and understood how deeply his actions were hurting his wife and children. That awareness hit him hard. It pushed him to reflect on the kind of man he had become and the kind of father he wanted to be. From that moment, he decided to change, to break away from violence, and to rebuild his home with respect, peace, and responsibility.
In his own words “Everybody knew I was violent. I used to get drunk and beat my wife and my kids. Whenever they heard me coming, they would run and sleep in a farm until morning. But after being recruited for Mvura Nkuvure, my whole life changed. I thank them for helping me transform. Now I no longer drink like I used to and I live in harmony with my wife. If it was not for Mvura Nkuvure, I think I would have ended up in jail or a divorce.”
Today, Ezekiel is a different man. He is sober, present, and committed to rebuilding trust with his family. His home, once filled with fear, is now a place of peace. His transformation has also inspired other men in his community to reflect on their own behaviors.
Source: CBS Rwanda
