Domestic Violence Family Centre Fund

Dear Supporter, 

We thank you for supporting us and standing with us through our journey of reaching to the goal of $ 10,500. Through this project report, we wanted to take you through the work of our amazing counsellors. 

We would like to share the story of Shravani and Mahesh who approached Secunderabad Counselling Centre and are now experiencing the positive impact in their lives. 

Note: Names of client has been changed to protect the identity of the client and her children. The clients have signed a release form giving My Choices Foundation permission to share their story.

Shravani and Mahesh, a couple from Hyderabad approached our counsellor through our Peacemaker. They both belong to in Hyderabad and have been married for 3 years. It was Shravani ’s decision to undergo counselling as she felt that is her last resort to save her marriage. She wanted to walk away from her marriage because her husband was abusive and unreliable. He would beat her up mercilessly for no reason and instantly take care of her with love. This kind of behaviour confused Shravani. While Mahesh felt that he was dedicated to his wife, Shravani felt that he was unaccountable of his whereabouts and this made Shravani suspicious. She also had a problem with his drinking, which also lead to physical violence. On the other hand, Mahesh felt that small issues and misunderstandings between both of them were leading to bigger problems and they could be solved amicably. Shravani was sure that their relationship needed intervention and she could not continue like this any longer. She gave counselling a try keeping in mind the best interest of her children and family. 

After a few sessions of counselling with our counsellor, Shravani insisted that Mahesh attend more counselling session as she felt he was finally beginning to understand her problems and her expectations from the marriage. Although Mahesh kept on asking her to move back in with him, she did not budge until he completed all the counselling sessions. Once the counselling sessions ended, they started living together again with their children and have learnt to communicate with each other. Although they still have their differences, they are working on resolving them in a peaceful and mature manner. To make Shravani feel comfortable, Mahesh has made a timetable for each day and he sticks to it. He stopped consuming alcohol as he felt that there is nothing more important than the wellbeing of his wife and children. This way, his life is more organised and Shravani also knows what her husband is doing or where he is. Mahesh shares that before counselling, Shravani and his parents had huge problems and he was forced to be distant to his family for the sake of his wife. Now that he and Shravani have begun to solve their issues, Shravani is warming up to her in laws and inviting them home which makes Mahesh very happy and satisfied. They both strongly feel that they would have separated on a bitter note if  they would not have attended the counselling sessions.

There are many Shravani and Mahesh's out there looking to find happiness and love in their relationship. There are numerous people who are looking for support. Our Secunderabad Center receives many  particularly harrowing and challenging cases than any of our other Centers. We need more PeaceMakers to expand our outreach so that Shravani's in that community are aware of the choices available to them to live lives free from abuse. It is only because of a PeaceMaker that today Shravani and Mahesh are able to lead a blissful life. 

Your donation has helped us get one step closer to making the Secunderabad Center expansion possible! That is incredible! We urge you to share our story with your friends and family and encourage them to donate towards many more PeaceMakers and happy families. 

Thank You. 

Dear Supporter, 

We are so grateful that you have helped us get closer to our goal of $10,500 to support the expansion of our Secunderabad Counselling Center - Thank you! 

If you follow our work and campaigns, you may remember Sandhya and her daughters Pavani and Pallavi. We fundraised to send Pavania and Pallavi to school after their accademic year was disrupted when they were forced to flee life-threatening abuse in their home. It was the first time we raised funds for a specific client, and used funds to help the rehabilitation process. 

Sandhya had endured over 14 years of horrific abuse including attempts to take her life when she met our Counsellor Pearl at the Secunderabad Centre for the first time. She lived under such tight control of her husband, that much of her counselling took place through a pay phone when she was able to call Pearl while out shopping. It took a year and a half for Sandhya to make the decision to escape, and it was her daughters' future that gave her the courage. After creating a safe exit plan with her Counsellor, it took Sandhya months to find the safe moment to escape. Her opportunity to escape happened to come in the middle of the night, during her girls' end of year exams. Fortunately, it was a scenario that Pearl and Sandhya had prepared for - Sandhya knew she must put her safety first knowing her daugters would get another chance the following year at their exams. 

Once Sandhya and the girls escaped, however, they were faced with many new challenges. Sandhya began the difficult process of filing a police report and getting protection. Living in a safe home, she started a new job and began saving for rent and basic necessities. Even though Sandhya and Pearl had gone together to visit safe homes as a part of the exit plan, when time came they had to change plans because that safe home was no longer a safe option for Sandhya. 

When the girls joined school, our Secunderabad Center Counsellors and Coordinator worked with them to establish safety protocols for the girls. Despite changing school districts and police orders against visitation, their father found them and attempted several times to intimidate the school into giving him access to them. 

The help she received from her Counsellor, then her Legal Aid, and now her Self Help Group has helped her establish a safe and peaceful home for her daughters to grow up in. Pavani and Pallavi are now class toppers, and Sandhya is living her dream watching them grow. They are now free from abuse and free from fear. 

This is only a part of Sandhya's story. There are so many other Sandhyas who our Secunderabad Center has supported, and so many we have not yet met. Our Secunderabad Center receives more of these particularly harrowing and challenging cases than any of our other Centers. We need more PeaceMakers to expand our outreach so that Sandhyas in that community are aware of the choices available to them to live lives free from abuse. 

Your donation has helped us get one step closer to making the Secunderabad Center expansion possible! That is incredible! Would you now consider sharing Sandhya's story with your friends, family or colleagues and sharing with them your reason for donating? It is possible that, together, we help more women like Sandhya who are desperate for a choice to escape abuse find a route to Peace. 

If you'd like to share Sandhya's story and video, you can find it on our blog - here. 

Thank you for your support!