Gender Equality Cambodia Project #5863

Healing for Victims of Assault and Trafficking

by Lotus Outreach

Project Report | Jul 14, 2024
CW: Kim's Journey to Recovery and Empowerment

By Raksmey VA | Country Representative - Cambodia

Girls at the Shelter Receive Counseling

Objectives

The primary objective of Healing for Victims of Assault and Trafficking is to provide comprehensive support and empowerment to survivors of sexual assault, enabling them to recover from trauma and reintegrate into society with confidence and self-sufficiency. With your ongoing support, young women will be supported to recover and thrive.

Case Study: Kim's Journey to Recovery and Empowerment

Kim is a courageous young woman living in Cambodia with her younger sister. At the age of 13, she was forced to drop out of school to seek employment and support her family. Many young women in her region never get the chance to complete their education due to the necessity of earning money for essentials like rice. After dropping Kim quickly found a job as a cleaner at a guest house. However, after only a month of employment, Kim was violently sexually assaulted by a boarder staying at the guest house.

Despite the intense fear and trauma, Kim exhibited extraordinary bravery by immediately reporting the assault. The perpetrator was swiftly arrested. On February 5th, 2024, Kim was referred to our safe shelter program by local authorities, where she awaited court proceedings with a mix of anxiety and hope.

Initial Challenges

When Kim first arrived at the shelter, she was deeply traumatized and fearful. The relatives of the perpetrator had been harassing her, and had Kim experienced victim-shaming adding to her distress.

Kim was extremely shy and did not want anybody to know her story. The thought of the court proceedings made her anxious, and she feared losing the case. She preferred to stay in her room, feeling homesick and waiting for her mother to visit. Kim also felt anxious about no longer being able to support her family, and wanted the case to be resolved quickly so she could find a job to help her mother, who was under financial distress.

Outcomes

Following the intensive support and counseling sessions provided by our program, Kim has shown remarkable improvement. Initially consumed by fear and anxiety, Kim is now a confident young woman actively participating in the shelter's daily activities. She takes pride in her contributions to the shelter, such as cooking, cleaning, and attending sewing classes.

Kim's transformation is a testament to the power of compassionate and targeted support. She now looks forward to the future with hope and determination, empowered by the skills and confidence she has gained through our program.

Testimonials

"When I first came to the shelter, I was scared and homesick. But with the support and counseling I received, I started to feel more confident and hopeful about my future. I am learning new skills, and I feel stronger every day." - Kim

Thank you for your continued support. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of survivors like Kim, helping them to overcome trauma and rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.

If Kim's story touched you, please consider setting up a recurring donation to support her and other young women.

Group Counseling

Kim 1-on1

Links:

Lotus Outreach Website

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Apr 13, 2024
CW: Theara's Story At Our Shelter

By Raksmey VA | Country Representative - Cambodia

Legal Aid For Survivors (hidden identity)

Project Report CONTENT WARNING:

Cambodia has made strides in addressing gender-based violence and improving access to support services for survivors. However, cultural stigma, social norms, and systemic challenges continue to hinder survivors' ability to seek help and access comprehensive care. Survivors often face barriers such as fear of stigma, lack of awareness about available services, and limited resources for mental health support.

Lotus Outreach, in partnership with Cambodian Women's Crisis Center, implemented a counseling program for survivors of sexual abuse, trafficking, and domestic violence, aimed at addressing their psychosocial needs and promoting healing and empowerment. The program provides individual counseling, group therapy sessions, legal advocacy support to survivors, and reintegration.

In 2023, there were 43 survivors using the shelter's resources (domestic violence cases: 19, sexual abuse: 22, trafficking: 2), and 77 relatives of survivors received mental and legal counseling. 32 cases filed legal complaints against their abusers, and 4 cases were reconciled outside the legal mediation process.

The project team has observed that there are many incidences of violence against women in Banteay Meanchey Province that are referred to our shelter. Additionally, our shelter has seen a rise in the number of incidents of sexual abuse in the region.

Our counseling services are tailored to the needs of survivors to provide a safe, supportive, and empowering space for healing and recovery.

Theara’s story:

Theara, aged 40, is a hairdresser and clothing designer residing in Treas village. She has two children–a son and a daughter–and married her husband in 2005. Recently, she faced marital issues leading to serious arguments with her husband, prompting her decision to leave home. With no clear direction and limited resources, she left her husband with only a set of clothes.

Seeking refuge, she stayed at a relative's house before being referred to our shelter on July 27, 2023, to seek assistance in filing for divorce. She experienced feelings of hopelessness and despair, compounded by health issues such as joint pain and lack of funds for medical treatment.

Upon arriving at the shelter, Theara felt intimidated by her husband, a police officer, and feared retaliation. Through counseling sessions focusing on emotional support, self-discovery, and group interactions, Theara gradually regained her confidence and developed strong bonds with fellow shelter residents. Actively participating in shelter activities, she emerged stronger and more empowered.

With the assistance of the program, Theara's separation case reached a resolution, bringing her immense relief and gratitude for the support provided during her stay at the shelter.

Dear donor:

Thank you for supporting the Counseling Program. Your donation has a profound impact on the lives of survivors who have sought refuge and support at our safe shelter. In the aftermath of trauma and adversity, counseling plays a crucial role in healing and empowerment, offering survivors a safe space to process their experiences, rebuild their sense of self, and envision a hopeful future.

Theara Making Clothes (hidden identity)

Links:

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Dec 17, 2023
Cheata's Story

By Raksmey Var | Country Representative

Counseling is an integral part of the CTC program, for survivors of sexual and physical abuse it is a vital lifeline, providing tools for individuals to navigate the often challenging path toward healing and recovery. Survivors often carry the weight of trauma, feel isolated, misunderstood, struggle with overwhelming emotions and triggers, and grapple with trust issues, with themselves or in others. Counseling provides a safe and supportive environment for them to process and heal from these experiences, offers a space where their experiences are validated, and they receive empathetic support, helps rebuild a sense of trust, both in relationships and in one's own ability to navigate the world, equips them with coping strategies, and fostering resilience and emotional regulation.

Cheata is 18 years old. She was orphaned at 3 years old, whereafter she moved in with her grandmother. However, her uncle who lived there as well was seen as a risk to Cheata's wellbeing and she was quickly taken to live with her other grandmother. When she was 5, she enrolled in school and stayed until second grade, when she dropped out. She said she couldn't keep up with her studies and didn't have anyone to help her. Cheata was also struggling at home, suffering physical abuse from her grandmother who beat her.

Finally, at age 18, and after 13 years of enduring abuse daily, Cheata decided to run away. Fortunately, someone from the village recognized her and listened to her. They brought her to the authorities who referred her to the CTC safe shelter immediately.

When she first arrived at the shelter, she felt scared and worried that her grandmother was aware of her stay and had come to take her back. The officers observed clear signs of mental and physical distress in Cheata. As she has settled in at the shelter however, she has benefitted from the counselling and community support of the other women and girls in the shelter. She has been at the shelter for 9 months now, where she is learning to sew and make clothing. Her friends and counselors say she's very talented.

We are honored to support young women like Cheata on their way to healing.

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