VICTIM TO SURVIVOR AND LIBERATOR

Being born and being brought up like I was, isn’t easy. We were 10 sisters who were supported by a father who doesn’t have a stable generation of income. Yet we were that kind of family who eventually learn to cope with the poverty as it has became our identity. I grew up to hone myself as a good charactered woman then I met the man whom I fell in love. I always dreamt of a happy married life and that he was the one God has destined me to. We got married and my dreams shattered because I became a victim of incessant domestic violence. After having two children, my efforts to save our marriage went in vain as his efforts to abuse and violence failed to ceased. So we separated as per customary laws and I couldn’t even stay with my kids because of the patriarchal system our society follows.

Many a times, I had to undergo a lot of mental depression and lost faith and confidence in myself. Thinking and missing my children, my family poverty and stigma and discrimination of the society towards women in such conditions added salts to my wounds. There were many a time when I chose to end up my life having undergone such hardships. But on second thought, I began to realise helping others and living for others, is the key to happiness and also the best way to please God. So, I decided that I will sacrifice myself to serve others within my capacity. I began my new life as a social worker especially towards the upliftment and empowerment of women in our society. My efforts didn’t go in vain, God answered my prayers .To me, my harsh experienced seemed to be God’s purpose. He elevated me to be an elected people’s representative of local governance called Member of Autonomous District Council in our district . Not only mere representative, I happened to be the sole, first woman ever to be elected as a representative of the people for two consecutive terms for our district. And in order to reach out to more women and children , I started various initiatives to help more women and children in difficult circumstances in our society.

The establishment of a women led Non Profit Organisation called “Action for Women and Child Advancement(AWCA)” is one of them .This initiative has helped me alot to reach out to more women like me and their children and hope to help more in my efforts to assure, guide and liberate women who have shared experience of gender violence and others who face untold miseries inflicted by poverty, rape and sexual abuse, drugs and alcohol abuse, disability ,trafficking, Commercial Sex Workers, conflicts(homes and society),HIV/AIDS, famines, disasters etc to live a meaningful life.

This positive outcome will continue and stay strong, to be motivated and devote myself to be able to lend a helping hand to the distress section of the society, especially to women and children to empower and liberate them from all sorts of societal bondage. I strongly believe that this humble commitment is a means to glorify God, ways I can contribute for the betterment of the society and the only source of true happiness in life.

Thank you for reading and am so glad to be part of WorldPulse .

Grace Zamnu.