Roseline's Story
When Roseline arrived in Minnesota, she was so depressed and frightened that she was unable to leave her house.
During her first appointment at CVT's Minnesota healing center, Roseline sobbed uncontrollably. In follow-up meetings, she continued to be guarded, depressed and disengaged from people. She could barely speak. While she was now safe in the U.S., the torture she endured after attending a political rally and supporting an opposition candidate in her home country in West Africa continued to haunt her.
But when Roseline joined the women’s counseling group, she began to make friends and trust others. She completed her GED certificate and participated in other educational opportunities in the community.
She began volunteering in a hospital that eventually hired her. Roseline is now enrolled in college and has meaningful relationships with others. Today, she offers hope and resilience to other survivors and people she encounters.
The names of survivors and some personal details have been changed to protect their identity. The photos represent the many countries and cultures represented by torture survivors. We do not use images of survivors to protect their identity and their safety.