Refuge for abused women in Malaysia

*Swara is from Myanmar. A 20 year old woman hoping for a better life. Swara’s father urged her to leave the country during a crisis and she made her way to Malaysia. During her journey, Swara was smuggled into the jungle and kept there with a few other women.

Swara is a rape survivor. For months, the agents whom she thought would lead her to a job, tortured her and she endured the ordeal. When they released all the women except for her, she knew she had to find a way out. She told herself to be strong despite feeling terrified of the terrible violence and trauma that they have caused her.

Swara managed to escape one day with the help of some nearby villagers. As soon as she got out, Swara went looking for a relative she knew from her father. She needed a safe place to hide from the perpetrators. Together with her relative, Swara approached the UN for help and Swara was referred to WAO for shelter.

Swara stayed in the WAO Refuge for almost a year. She took time to heal and get her life back on track again. Swara received counselling and all the support she needed from her social worker. At one of the regular sessions, Swara was asked to pick a picture card. She picked an image of a jungle which she said was beautiful but frightening. She talked about what happened in the jungle and said “I will not give up. I know one day, I will see the light!” When she was asked what has kept her going, Swara told her social worker that her inner strength came from her parents. She is a courageous young woman who wants to regain control of her life.

Swara will be resettling soon. She plans to continue with her education.

*Name has been changed to protect identity