Turning hardship into wisdom: Rwandan youth responses to childhood experiences of intimate partner violence

BACKGROUND: Childhood experiences of intimate partner violence (CEIPV) remain under-documented from the perspectives of children and youth in Rwanda, and East Africa in general. Most existing research often relies on adult proxies, overlooking the narrative agency and lived experiences of young people (YP). OBJECTIVE: This study explores how Rwandan youth with CEIPV, name, story and historicize their experiences and responses to harm. It examines how storytelling, memory work, and peer witnessing contribute to meaning-making, resistance, and healing. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Thirteen Rwandan youth (ages 22-25) participated in a series of storytelling circles over three months. All had experienced CEIPV before age 18 and were recruited through youth peer-support organizations and professional networks. METHODS: A participatory and collective narrative approach grounded in Ubuntu ontology and extended epistemology was used. Data included participants' firsthand stories, transcripts, reflections, and peer feedback. Collective narrative analysis was applied to co-create a collective narrative document. RESULTS: Nine themes were collectively developed: a lexicon of situational knowledges, sensory comfort, seeking safety amidst chaos, speaking out, learning from adversity, cultural and spiritual strength, envisioning a future free from violence, self-reliance, and the role of supportive others. Across these themes, youth demonstrated relational response-abilities, situational knowledges, and creative expression. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the importance of youth-centered narrative approaches in understanding CEIPV beyond harm-focused frameworks. Youth storytelling offers critical insights into how children actively respond to violence and has implications for strengthening child protection, mental health, and psychosocial interventions.