I’m Rani and this is my story….

“I had four children. My two older children, a girl and a boy were washed away by the tsunami. To add to my sadness of losing two children, I was subject to constant beatings from my husband, who is in the fishing trade. I was in hiding most of the time in a relative’s house with my younger two children for over 8 years.

I went to the police station over 20 times to lodge complaints and to try and resolve my problems. The police mediated and sent me back saying ‘after all he is your husband’. On the last occasion, when I went to the Police Station to complain, they referred me to WIN’s Weligama police counseling desk and to a WIN counselor. This time they saw my injuries, and understood why I could not go back. I was taken to WIN’s Matara shelter, for safety and further counseling. Later I got transferred to WIN’s Colombo shelter, as my husband kept following me when I went to hospital for treatment.

I was counselled and supported for over a year by the WIN counselors, who were kind and very understanding. The lawyers at WIN eventually succeeded in obtaining a protection order against my husband after several hearings. My 12-year old daughter could not continue her studies and did not feel safe at home. So she stayed with me at the shelter for one month. Subsequently WIN managed to place her in a home, to continue her studies. For my one year in WIN’s safe space, I was introduced to WIN’s skills project in Colombo, where I learnt a skill in manufacturing recycled paper and products.

Weekly I learnt new things; I could feel a difference in myself. I made new friends, women just like me, who had come to WIN for help. I learnt of their difficulties and life stories, such as mine. I felt more confident to bring out my ides and thoughts as time went by. I sought assistance from them every step of the way as I learnt that it was me who had to be strong. I felt proud of the wage I earned daily through my hard work. I felt proud of being able to shower my daughter with a few sweets and gifts whenever I got the opportunity to see her. I felt empowered and free, the ‘Me’, I had forgotten existed. My life had changed….

After one year, I returned home, but WIN continued to counsel and support not only me but my husband, who promised not to beat me but be good to me. Today my husband, my son and I live together and my husband supports the family. I am now self-employed contributing to the family home, through the skills i learnt whilst I was at the WIN shelter.

This is my story. I am where I am today, thanks to WIN. It is women such as my self who will always appreciate and value all that WIN has done for us and our children in a time where our worlds had fallen apart, when we were nothing, we had no self worth or reason for sometimes even out own lives. WIN’s dedication has helped me, to be where i am today, and helped me achieve that dream of a peaceful and nurturing home environment for my children and my family”.