Acid Attack survivor.

 𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐃 𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐕𝐎𝐑 - 𝐁𝐲 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐀 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐈𝐌𝐀

Let’s start with -: 𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝒊𝒔  𝑭𝒍𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒂?  

My name is Flavia Nampiima. I am the second born in a family of 5 children. I am Ugandan and by profession, I am a counselor. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Guidance & Counseling and I have been practicing counseling for close to 4 years now.  Currently, I work with Bless a Child Foundation - A foundation that supports children, suffering from cancer.

I am an acid survivor; Attack happened 11 years ago -: in October 2009;  I fell into a depression and lost a lot of weight because of emotional stress and physical pain. Half of my body and skin were covered in burns which are now scars. My mind and body went through a lot of change.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟??

The first years were really tough. I was consumed by anger, sadness, helplessness; anything you can think of. I had a lot to accept about myself in my new body and skin and this was not easy. I hid and covered up a lot for all the time I had to be out in public because I was scared of people’s reactions. This is because internally I was already judging myself harshly. Since I hated my appearance I believed the rest of the world would reject me as well. So I did not go out much and if I had to, I ensured that every scar on my skin was not seen.

Later on, as I started regaining my strength and self-love, I started doing away with covering up, I felt proud each time I overcame a certain fear. I started smiling and laughing more. The crying and nightmares disappeared gradually. I wanted my life back so I started working at getting it back even if the scars were permanent. I just wanted to be happy again and that is what I focused on.

𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞?

My support system was and still is an entire village thankfully. From my family to my friends; old and new who walked with me whenever I was scared to walk by myself, the community at home, and at church. I met with a university counselor every week; I met with few survivors from the Acid Survivors Foundation who helped me realized that I am not the only survivor. The lecturers at the university who eased my return back to complete my degree. Lastly and most importantly;  my faith in God.

𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚?

I read a lot of self-help material to better my mind and have a better understanding of my emotions and how to relate with others. I value things that make me happy and so I invest time in these things. I value hard work and the benefits just like everyone else so I work. My faith is my rock so in whatever I do; I rely on it to guide me.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀?

I have volunteered with the Acid Survivors Foundation and organized a fundraising dinner for the foundation in 2018. I offer counselling for some survivors privately.

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞? 

As long as you wake up each day, keep going.

Dᴇᴀʀ Fʟᴀᴠɪᴀ; 

Wᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ ʟᴏᴠᴇ; sᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴛᴏsᴀʏ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ; ᴏᴠᴇʀꜰʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ ꜰᴇᴇʟɪɴɢs; Wᴇ ᴀʀᴇ sᴏ ᴘʀᴏᴜᴅ ᴏꜰ ʏᴏᴜ🙏 🥰TᴇᴀᴍSᴜᴘᴇʀʜᴇʀᴏᴇs Nᴇxᴛ Dᴏᴏʀ Fʟᴀᴠɪᴀ Aʟɪsᴏɴ Wʜɪʟᴇ Yᴏᴜ Cʀɪᴇᴅ Aʙᴏᴜᴛ TʜᴀᴛOɴᴇ Pɪᴍᴘʟᴇ Oɴ Yᴏᴜʀ Fᴀᴄᴇ... 

Aᴄɪᴅ Aᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋ Fɪɢʜᴛᴇʀ Sᴍɪʟᴇᴅ Fʀᴏᴍ Tʜᴇ Cᴏʀɴᴇʀ..!

Share: