Sisters' Stories: Boxing Sister Rahiba – “I always wanted to be strong”

Continuing our ‘Sisters’ Stories’ series, this week’s close-up on the women and girls we support turns to 16-year-old Rahiba.

As one of the participants on our Boxing Sisters programme, Rahiba lives in the Rwanga camp, which has a population of around 13,000 displaced individuals. The camp is crowded with tents and basic cabins which have little heating in winter, and get fiercely hot in summer.

Although life is unrelentingly difficult, Rahiba decided to get involved with Boxing Sisters, which aims to help women and girls impacted by conflict rebuild their lives through boxing and self-defence. 

Taking part in the training provides a useful release for stress and past trauma, and Rahiba says: “I'm a girl who has always wanted to be strong, and to be able to defend myself from any kind of abuse. I love boxing and it has now been several months since I first came come to the Lotus Flower’s centre to participate.”

Boxing Sisters classes not only improve women and girls’ mental and physical wellbeing, but also foster self-confidence and enable strong friendships to form between the girls. We originally set up the programme with the help of Cathy Brown, a retired professional British boxer and certified Cognitive Behaviour Therapist. 

Rahiba adds: “This kind of sport is incredible and inspires me every day. I would love to be a boxing trainer in the future, and to teach and encourage other women and girls to try it.”

Boxing forms part of our wider holistic programming at our women’s centres, and we also provide regular sessions in women’s fitness and yoga, as well as mental health counselling.

Please do keep supporting us so we can continue to offer these vital services…