Newslink Jan-Mar 2015 - Women`s Centre for Change Penang

Women’s Centre for Change
241 Jalan Burma
10350 Penang, Malaysia.
Tel: 04-228 0342
E-mail: [email protected]
Pusat Perkhidmatan Wanita
Seberang Perai (PPW)
67A, Jalan Perai Jaya 4
13600 Prai, Penang.
Tel: 04-398 8340/41
E-mail: [email protected]
Quarterly Newsletter of Women’s Centre for Change, Penang
WCC Penang
January– March 2015
www.wccpenang.org
Internal Circulation
My Story My Strength:
Doodle for Change
If you know of any person who has experienced and overcome domestic violence or sexual violence,
WCC would like to document her struggle through writing or recording. By telling her story, it will
encourage other victims to seek help, and stop more violence from happening. Let her strength
inspire strength in others.
Sarimah Ibrahim, renowned Malaysia TV and radio personality is WCC’s Ambassador for Doodle for
Change project. Here’s how the person can participate:
A)
Share Your Story
Share your story of domestic or sexual violence
and let WCC know how it affected you and
how you survived it. Tell our social worker in
person, on the telephone, via email, or send us
an audio recording on WhatsApp 016 517
9375.
If you are writing, please keep your story to
not more than 4 pages, font size 12, Times
New Roman, Double Spacing. Email your story
to [email protected]. The deadline is 15
May 2015.
WCC will select 10 stories and get 10
prominent women artists to doodle these stories into drawings for an exhibition and auction
at the Georgetown Festival (GTF) 2015 where
Sarimah Ibrahim will be the auctioneer.
B) Submit Your Doodle
If you can doodle, please draw about any act of
violence that you have witnessed or experienced, including bullying or harassment. Show
how it affected you and how you survived it.
Take a clear photo of your doodle art piece (more than 2000 pixel), or scan it in High Res (300 Dpi).
Email it to [email protected] with a 100-word description of the doodle.
The deadline is 30 June 2015.
These doodles will be displayed in an online gallery where the public can vote. The Top 10 doodles
with the most votes will have their work exhibited at the GTF 2015. The top three doodles will win
the latest smartphone/tablet.
Please go into www.wccpenang.org for details.
1
CELEBRATING INTERNATIO
At Occupy B
“It was great performing for
energetic crowd” Penang Dho
A resounding success with a crowd of 1,000.
Sumptuous breakfast for over 200
participants by International Women’s Association.
“I see women from all walks of life,
each with their own struggles and dreams
to make it happen,” WCC President Susan Siew.
At Whiteaw
About 200 people attended the launch of
“Hear Our Stories,” a joint WCC and PPW publication.
Readings of excerpts from the book.
ONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2015
Beach Street
r such an
ol Blasters
“I was honoured to perform for IWD and was so
excited to see such a big crowd” Joey Lim
Festive morning of performances, information booths and games!
YB Chow Kon Yeow, “Men should be part
of the struggle to end violence. Men should stop
looking at women’s issues as belonging to women alone.”
YB Chong Eng, “ Gender
equality and women’s empowerment are
important components for society’s progress.”
ways Arcade
Inspired movement improvisation,
“Hear Our Song,” by Ombak-ombak Art Studio.
“We The Butterfly Effect,” a dance about
breaking free from a cocoon and becoming a butterfly.
30th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
WCC GROWING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH
“2014 was a remarkably busy year.
Nearly thirty years strong, WCC is
still expanding and developing.
With a growing staff of 17 persons
and two running centres, WCC and
PPW, the organisation undertakes
multi-level work at breakneck
speed: providing crisis service for
women,
conducting
sexual
violence prevention programs for
communities while advocating for
the rights of the victims of sexual
crimes,” remarked WCC President,
Susan Siew, in her opening address at WCC’s 30th
Annual General Meeting on 21 March and attended by
23 members.
Susan highlighted WCC’s successful joint anti-rape
campaign in Kota Bharu, key participation in Penang
Goes Orange in November, a 16-day Penang state-wide
campaign to eliminate violence, and the publication of
Hear Our Stories, a book capturing the struggles of 13
women.
Following that, WCC Social Worker, Yeoh Bee Yen and
PPW Service Manager, Elaine Ong reported on the
service work of 2014. Domestic and sexual violence
cases (rape, sexual harassment, child sexual abuse)
constitute about 50% of our work. WCC has developed a
comprehensive system of support where the client and
family members are given emotional and legal support
from the process of counselling all the way to court
trials.
Over in Seberang Perai, PPW activities has increased
tremendously. The number of clients increased by 20%
and PPW was actively involved in outreach work. To
cope with the increased workload, two new staff were
recruited. Our collaboration with hospitals both on the
island and mainland continues to be fruitful.
WCC Project Officers, Tasha Merican
and Mangleswary Subramaniam, then
took to the floor with their
presentation on outreach work
carried out in 2014 where WCC
reached out to a record number of
8,191 persons. We empowered 2,500
children and 824 youths on sexual
violence prevention and reached
2,648 individuals through community
talks on family violence. We were
able to train a total of 2,219 medical personnel,
prosecutors and teachers to sensitise them on victims’
rights and prevention of sexual violence.
A third new video, OK Tak OK Siri 3 was produced,
adding a new chapter to the Bijak Itu Selamat sexual
abuse prevention program.
WCC Committee 2015/2016
President:
Vice President:
Vice President:
Hon Secretary:
Asst. Secretary:
Treasurer:
Committee Members:
Lalita Menon
Mariam Lim
Hajar Abdul Rahim
Lim Kah Cheng
Yeoh Siew Eng
Sally Eu
Susan Siew
Cindy Ruble
Ivy Ho
Chin Khuan Sui
4
WCC Advocacy Officer, Joshua Teh then delivered on 2014’s
advocacy work. An important milestone was the recognition
of the advocacy team’s skill and ability to conduct trainings
on victims’ rights. WCC is now on the calendar of the
National Judicial and Legal Training Institute (ILKAP) and is
being invited to train prosecutors to advocate for victims’
rights.
WCC also held Interagency Dialogues that brought together
six agencies (court, prosecutors, police, welfare, lawyers
and WCC) to act in the interest of victims. WCC together
with Bar Council and relevant ministries will be holding a
National Consultation on Victim Advocacy in 2015. The
team also actively participated in reforming laws, policies
and practices that affect women and children, both at a
national level and as part of the Joint Action Group for
Gender Equality (JAG).
The AGM then proceeded with the 2014 Annual
Statement of Accounts, adoption of the proposed
budget for 2015, and the election of a new General
Committee. Newly elected WCC President, Lalita
Menon, shared with the group, “I am proud to be
working with all of you at WCC. I have some big
shoes to fill and will do my best to help WCC grow
with support from all of you.”
ON RADIO MUTIARA...SEBELUM TERLEWAT
Januari– SENTUHAN OK TAK OK
Pada 6 Januari, Pegawai WCC, Pn. Tasha berkesempatan untuk berkongsi informasi dengan para pendengar
rancangan radio Mutiara 95.7 FM iaitu ‘Sebelum Terlewat’ pada 10 pagi. Pn. Tasha membincangkan tentang
sentuhan ‘Ok Tak Ok’ selama 30 min. Antara pesanan yang ditekankan oleh Tasha ialah penderaan seksual
terhadap kanak-kanak itu adalah satu jenayah, para pendengar digalakkan untuk mengajar anak-anak mereka
tentang keselamatan diri, dan para ibu bapa mesti percaya pada kanak-kanak yang memberitahu tentang
penderaan dan bersama-sama menghentikan penderaan seksual dari terus berlaku.
Februari– RESPEK
Pada 10 Februari, Pegawai Perhubungan WCC Hasanah Akhir telah
ditemubual tentang pentingnya respek sesama ahli keluarga. Pada
slot minggu itu, Hasanah menenkankan tentang betapa pentingnya
sifat saling hormat menghormati (RESPEK) di antara satu sama lain
di dalam sebuah keluarga. Dengan adanya sifat RESPEK ini, sebuah
keluarga harmoni dapat di bina dan ini secara tidak langsung akan
menghindar dari berlakunya sebarang keganasan di dalam
sesebuah keluarga.
Mac– HARI WANITA SEDUNIA
Pada 3 Mac, Pegawai Kanan Advokasi WCC, Melissa Mohd Akhir telah berkongsi tentang sambutan Hari Wanita
Antarabangsa di Pulau Pinang. Hari Wanita diraikan pada 8 Mac sebagai peluang bagi wanita Malaysia untuk
mengiktiraf dan meraikan pencapaian wanita, usaha mendapatkan hak dan kesaksamaan menyeluruh dari
keluarga sendiri hinggalah ke pelbagai lapisan masyarakat. Ini berkaitan dengan perjuangan WCC sepanjang 30
tahun lalu membantu beribu-ribu klien mencapai perubahan positif dan menamatkan keganasan. Melissa
berbincang tentang penindasan yang dialami ada kalanya dalam bentuk dasar atau undang-undang yang berat
sebelah atau merugikan wanita. Beliau menitikberatkan bahawa, “ramai wanita bergelut menyara keluarga dan
diri sendiri di samping menjadi seorang ibu dan isteri di rumah. Dalam segala kepayahan ini, kita perlu undangundang atau amalan yang lebih ‘mesra wanita.’
5
OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN
A New Chapter For Our BIS Program
WCC’s OK Tak OK VCD that teaches children about
appropriate and inappropriate forms of touch or
contact, is a key component of WCC’s successful sexual
abuse prevention program, Bijak Itu Selamat (BIS). WCC
has recently produced an updated version of the
educational DVD, OK Tak OK (Siri 3). “The stories in the
new DVD depict real sexual abuse cases from different
ethnicities - by a sundry shopkeeper, neighbour and a
brother-in-law. Children need to be aware that boys and
girls of any religion and race can become victims of
abuse,” revealed WCC Program Consultant, Prema
Devaraj.
Between January and March of this year, the Outreach
team, consisting of staff and volunteers piloted the
updated DVD with a total of 224 Standard 5 and 6
students from four schools. The aim of the piloting was
for facilitators who conduct the program to gauge how
well the new DVD is understood and an idea of the types
of question that may arise.
The team reached out to students from SJKC Min Sin in
January, SJKT Subramaniam Baratee in February, SK
Methodist Perempuan and SJKT Sungai Buloh in March.
Across the schools, the team found that students were
better able to connect with the video.
Students were responsive and asked a range of
insightful questions, such as:
“Kalau kita tolong orang yang mengalami
sentuhan tak ok, adakah [pendera] akan
membalas dendam?”
“Kalau seseorang membuat perbuatan yang
tidak baik, apa tindakan yang perlu diambil?
Most of the students were able to differentiate
between good touch and bad touch, and some were
even exchanging notes and safety tips. “The stories
were interesting and easy to understand, especially
the one with Kohila!” shared one student.
In addition, on 17 January, WCC conducted the sexual
abuse prevention program using the new DVD with 20
children from the Children’s Protection Society (CPS).
The Outreach team was invited to conduct the
program at CPS as part of Lions’ Club of George Town
51st Anniversary Project. Fifty Lions members from
several ASEAN countries and local sister clubs visited
CPS.
WCC gratefully acknowledged the Club’s
sponsorship of printing WCC’s sexual abuse
prevention materials, Nina and her Secret and Roda
Tindakan.
BIS for Volunteers
On 28 February, an exclusive video-showing session of the new DVD was held for
our volunteers who are carrying out the BIS program. The session was held on
WCC’s premises, and facilitated by WCC Outreach Chairperson, Cindy Ruble, with
assistance from senior staff and volunteers. We received much positive feedback
and the DVD was met with unanimous approval. In addition to the showing,
volunteers also participated in group activities and discussions based on the new
video. Each group had to give a presentation, on which they received constructive
feedback. Most volunteers expressed being ready and excited to carry out the BIS
program in schools, but some said they were still not ready. The team however, sees
great potential in them and is sure they will be ready in no time.
6
REACHING YOUTHS
Helping Young Girls Find Their Voice
Finding My Voice is a new addition to
WCC’s youth programs. The objective
of the program is to empower young
girls to build their self-esteem and to
make informed decisions so that
young girls are able to stand up for
themselves and say no to sexual
exploitation. For the past three
months, WCC has been testing out
the module with students in Form One and Two at SMK
Tasek, SMK Batu Kawan and SK Methodist Perempuan.
The sessions were led by WCC staff, Mangleswary
Subramaniam and Hasanah Akhir. In one of the
sessions pertaining to conflicts at home, two girls broke
down while talking about their strained relationship
with their parents. Across the testing period, it became
clear that teenagers do not know how to handle
conflicts well. They find it difficult to express their
feelings and articulate their thoughts; and this often
results in shouting matches and pent up resentment.
“By teaching teenage girls negotiation skills and conflict
resolution skills, we aim to enable young girls to
communicate better with their parents as well as when
entering relationships”.
“Effective communication will hopefully
lessen the likelihood
of violence occurring,” says WCC
Senior Project Officer
Mangles.
REACHING COMUNITIES
Bengkel Keganasan Rumah Tangga
“Alangkah baiknya kalau kita boleh letak mesej pada
gambar atau TV siri yang menyatakan bahawa apabila
suami memukul isterinya, keganasan rumah tangga itu
adalah satu jenayah ” kata YB Kasturi Patto.
Pada 14 Mac, kakitangan dan sukarelawan WCC dan
wakil Perbadanan Pembangunan Wanita Pulau Pinang
(PWDC) dengan kerjasama Pusat Khidmat Ahli Parlimen
Batu Kawan telah menganjurkan satu bengkel setengah
hari tentang Keganasan Rumah Tangga (KRT). Bengkel
telah dirasmikan oleh YB Pn Chong Eng, EXCO
Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Komuniti. YB
Kasthuri Patto, Ahli Parlimen Batu Kawan dan Pn Lalitha
Menon, Naib Pengerusi WCC turut bersama sepanjang
hari bengkel tersebut.
Bengkel ini diadakan di Perkampungan Juru untuk
komuniti India. Bengkel ini bertujuan untuk
meningkatkan pengetahuan dan kesedaran para
peserta mengenai isu KRT, impak negatif KRT pada
kesihatan dan psikologi anak-anak yang tinggal
serumah. Bengkel ini juga memberi sedikit penerangan
tentang Akta KRT serta membekalkan informasi tentang
cara mendapat bantuan. Pelbagai aktiviti interaktif
seperti kajian kes telah digunakan dan bahan rujukan
telah diterjemahkan ke dalam Bahasa Tamil untuk
menggalakkan penyertaan dan memudahkan pembelajaran tentang KRT. Selepas bengkel, beberapa peserta
telah mendapatkan tarikh temujanji untuk sesi
kaunseling.
Promoting PPW/WCC Services
On 3 February during the Thaipusam celebration, PPW
Social Worker, Dharma Arjunan and WCC Senior Project
Officer, Mangles together with MP for Batu Kawan, YB
Kasthuri Patto ran an information booth to create
awareness about the services offered by both centers.
The trio worked tirelessly and distributed over 2,000
flyers and pamphlets to the crowd. The response was
positive with many approaching the booth requesting
for more in-depth information. In the midst of all the
festivities, under the hot sun, the team did a good job
enthusiastically conveying information to interested
persons about our services and the importance of
reporting incidences of domestic violence.
7
Speaking To The Rotarians
“We didn’t know that WCC did so much work!”
“Amazing that you manage to coordinate so many
projects and initiatives simultaneously” were just some
of the feedback received from members of the Rotary
Club of Penang following a short introductory talk on
WCC’s work by WCC Social Worker, Laika Jumabhoy.
The talk was delivered on 18 March during the Rotary
Club’s monthly dinner meeting. Laika spoke about work
carried out within the service, advocacy and outreach
work areas and how far WCC has come in its efforts to
eliminate violence against women and children and
promote equality. WCC’s Executive Director, Loh Cheng
Kooi took over the
reins towards the
end of the talk, and
put forward a child
sexual abuse project
on which the Rotary
Club and WCC could
collaborate.
We
look forward to a
fruitful partnership.
Karnival Usahawan Wanita Pulau Pinang
On 16 March, WCC’s interns ran an information booth
on WCC at Karnival Keusahawan Wanita, organised by
Penang Women’s Development Corporation. The interns
were at the Komtar concourse early in the morning to
set up WCC’s booth. They enthusiastically informed
visitors on WCC’s work, gave out our different
pamphlets, sold our educational books, t-shirts, bags
and promoted WCC’s services. They found that the
crowd was a mixed bag, some people were open and
inquisitive, while others were not so. “It was a new
experience for us. We gained a lot of knowledge and
learnt the value of good communication skills when
handling challenging questions or visitors,” shared the
interns. WCC thanks our interns, Deborah Chin, Choo Ai
Naa, Lim Pei Yi and Tan Chew Yann, for their effort and
dedication.
Training Youth Workers on RESPEK
Mangles and Hasanah were off to Kuala Lumpur on 12
February to conduct a two-day training on WCC’s
“Respect” module. This is an annual collaboration
between WCC and International Catholic Migration
Commission (ICMC) to train Burmese youth workers to
use the module to empower young adults in refugee
learning centers, to ensure they become less
vulnerable to exploitation and therefore become more
capable of exercising healthy choices in their
relationships. A total of 15 facilitators participated in
this training. The simultaneous translation (English to
Burmese) was helpful in ensuring that participants
were able to understand the training materials.
Sessions on child sexual abuse and gender were included as part of the training. The facilitators’ feedback
and sharing on questions they received from the
refugee children helped Mangles and Hasanah understand some of the challenges the facilitators face when
engaging with teenagers, particularly teenage boys.
“Once we were able to get a good idea of the
challenges that the facilitators face, we were able to
guide them effectively on how to navigate through the
challenges and engage the youths,” shared WCC Liason
Officer, Hasanah Akhir.
Brushing Up On Counselling Skills
On 17 March, PPW Coordinator, Ooi Say Tee attended
Dr Fred Toke’s seminar on “How to counsel
effectively?” Say Tee said “I found the seminar
refreshing and interesting. I learnt practical tips on
assessing clients that I will definitely share with my
colleagues.” Dr. Fred stressed for example, on the
importance of assessing ‘S.O.A.R.’, which denotes four
domains of a person’s functioning: social (S),
occupational (O), appetite (A) and rest/recreation (R).
Assessing these domains will help social workers get a
clearer understanding of the emotional state of the
client, how at risk the client is, and how best to support
the individual. Sharing of knowledge, techniques and
skills is a great way to build the capacity of our service.
8
ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES
Questionnaire To Improve Victim’s Rights
Over the past year, WCC’S Advocacy team has been
working together with the Bar Council to prepare a
questionnaire on vulnerable victims and witnesses’
rights when going to court. Vulnerable victims and
witnesses include children and survivors of physical or
sexual assault. The purpose of the questionnaire is to
determine the different types of facilities available in
court and during the trial process for these victims and
witnesses. In March 2015, this questionnaire was sent
out to Magistrates, Sessions Court judges, Deputy Public
Prosecutors, and Watching Brief lawyers in five states,
namely Penang, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Pahang, and
Johor. The results of this survey will be presented at a
National Consultation in September involving WCC, the
Attorney General Chambers, the Judiciary, Bar Council,
and various key agencies and ministries. WCC hopes
that the results of the survey will highlight the various
issues vulnerable victims faced in our criminal justice
system, and will lead to an in-depth discussion on how
to bring about concrete change to victims’ rights and
the facilities afforded to them in Malaysia.
STAFF DEVELOPMENT
Feminism: What’s It All About?
Four WCC staff attended a feminist camp organised by
the All Women’s Action Society (AWAM), from 23 to 25
February. The three-day camp held in Port Dickson,
Negeri Sembilan, was themed, Katak Di Bawah
Tempurung No More. The purpose of this camp was to
encourage open and honest discussion about all things
related to feminism. With our interests piqued by the
catchy theme, the WCC team was excited for what lay in
store.
The Camp was conducted using a methodology
termed ‘Open Space Technology’. While we did have to
adhere to basic ground rules, this approach promotes
freedom of expression and one’s right to exercise
choice. Participants were encouraged discuss issues or
concerns related to feminism that they were passionate
about, and perhaps had not
previously discussed openly.
Campers were allowed to
choose their own topics for discussion, start their own discussion groups and leave or join
groups based on interest. A
wide range of issues were
raised and discussed during the
camp from ‘What is virginity?’,
‘Rights to Women’s Bodies’,
‘Senior Activism versus Gen Y
Activism’.
WCC Social Worker, Bee Yen, said, “The camp exposed
me to what feminism is, and was also a great opportunity for me to share my knowledge with others,” while
Bahirah shared, “The measuring of a women’s worth
based on her virginity has always been an issue for me.
The camp allowed the space to discuss difficult issues”.
Liaison Officer Hasanah, expressed, “It was eye-opening
to hear of the myriad of issues women face. Feminism
has become a bad word in Malaysia and we need to
change this.” WCC Social Worker, Laika added that it
was a privilege to be among strong women and men
who not only discussed issues but looked for ways to
better the treatment of women.
9
Client’s Story: I Didn’t Hear the Red Alarm Bells...
Sam and I were colleagues at a computer technology
company. He was witty, good-looking and a talker. I
liked his outspokenness and that he was comfortable
in his own skin. We chatted sometimes over coffee.
Then, one day, he approached me and said, “You
have the most beautiful eyes. I love how they sparkle
when we chat.” He asked me out for a date, and at
that moment, I was the happiest person in the world.
We discovered that we had a lot in common. We dated for one year. During that time, everything appeared
rosy and full of hope to me. Sam showed in so many
ways that he cared about me.
Now, thinking back, there were warning signs that
things could turn sour. Sam rarely paid for anything when we went out. He told me that he gave a lot of his
salary to his parents for their needs; and that he was also helping out a cousin who was out of work and had a
family to support. I understood. I didn’t mind. I trusted Sam wholeheartedly.
Everything was good in the first year of marriage. Then problems began to emerge. Sam would often take
money RM50, RM100 that I left on the dressing table with a note that said, “Needed the cash. Have a good
day. Love you beautiful.” It did irk me, but I told myself not to be petty. I was lucky to have a husband who
was kind and cared about me. Slowly, the financial responsibilities that we had initially decided to share fell on
my shoulders. When I questioned Sam on why he never had any money despite earning a decent salary of
RM5,000, he would reply saying that he was looking after his parents, and sometimes his sister, or cousin or
brother. When I raised any objections, he accused me of being selfish, uncaring and self-centered. I felt stuck.
In order to save, I stopped going out with friends, stopped allowing myself even small indulgences like a
Starbucks coffee. I stopped doing things I liked because I was afraid.
Sam didn’t seem to notice or care that I was unhappy. I began confiding in my friends about my difficulties. In
return, Sam began accusing me of having an affair. Whenever anything irritated or upset him, or I raised
anything regarding finances, he would snarl, “At least I’m not sleeping around,” or “You’re just a pretty little
slut. I know you are cheating on me, just admit it.” I would plead with him to understand that I wasn’t doing
anything wrong and show him the messages on my phone. Nothing seemed to convince him. I consoled
myself thinking, “I have always made sound choices before this. This is just a rough patch, everything will be
fine.”
However, things got worse. Sam continued to take money from me without contributing anything. Every time
I tried to say something a fight ensued. In September 2014, Sam told me of wanting to make some investments
to “turn things around for us.” He spoke about how he had been feeling terrible about the money situation and
wanted to redeem himself. He promised me that the projects were secure and asked for a loan of RM50,000.
He promised he would begin paying me back at the start of the new year. I naively believed him. I wanted so
badly for things to change that I emptied out my savings and gave him the money. A couple of weeks later,
Sam said he had made an error and was short of
RM10,000. He pleaded that this would be the last of
it. I didn’t have anything left, and so had to borrow
money from my sister.
In December I asked him several times about how the
projects he invested in were doing. However, each
time I asked him, he came up with excuses. I was too
embarrassed to tell my parents and sister the full
extent of my problems. They had always supported
me in every decision and I couldn’t bring myself to
burden them with my problems. All I told them was
that Sam and I were having problems, but that it was
nothing I couldn’t manage.
10
In January, I asked Sam when he would be able to
start repaying my sister and I. I was absolutely
shocked when Sam bluntly replied that he would not
be able repay the loans because of “bad investments.” He refused to be open and tell me what was
going on. I was furious, hurt, disappointed and in a
state of disbelief. I left my marital home and moved
back into my parent’s house in January 2015. It was
so painful to see my parents cry; hurt because of my
decision. Every day for two months until I changed
my number, Sam would send me horrible messages,
calling me “worthless, a piece of shit who would
never find anyone else.” He even sent me porn videos and insisted that I admit I had acted in them. The
shame, guilt, hurt and disbelief was tearing me up, but I put up a brave front for my family and friends.
I came to WCC for help because I could lie to everyone else, but not myself. I was not ok, and willed myself to
have the courage to make an appointment. I was nervous coming for the first session. I hated being vulnerable.
My social worker was kind and put me at ease. I’ll never forget, five minutes into me talking, she said, “I get
the sense that you are a volcano that is fighting against erupting. It is ok you don’t have to be brave here.” I
broke down and sobbed . It felt good to let it all out, to not pretend. Following three sessions, my social worker
helped me process feelings of loss and grief. I have accepted that my marriage is over. She helped me
understand that sometimes you have to let go of the rotten part of you in order to be able to live again. What
was hardest for me and to some extent still is, is to let go of the guilt I feel for causing my parents such
distress. It’s difficult for me to forgive myself for marrying Sam. The sessions helped me see that there is no use
in holding on to guilt as it prevents me from living my life meaningfully. I used to spend a lot of time trying
not to feel sad, trying not to be weak, and trying to block out negative feelings; it was exhausting. The
expansion and mindfulness exercises are helping me
make space for painful feelings. I am slowly getting
better at ‘letting them pass.’
I feel better, being more open with my family
members about feelings and have started going out
more with friends. I have even made an appointment
with a lawyer to find out about divorce proceedings. I
know that in the journey of healing, I have some way
to go yet, but I know that I am getting there.
Sara, 32 years old
“Saya mengucapkan ribuan terima kasih kerana menghulurkan bantuan
kepada saya. Kalau puan tak beri huluran bantuan, saya tak tahu macam
mana berdepan dengan masalah. Saya memohon doa dari tuhan beri lebih
rezeki kepada puan sekali lagi saya ucapkan ribuan terima kasih.”
Aminah, 43 tahun, mangsa keganasan rumah tangga
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CREATING CHANGE WITH US
Reflections of An Intern
I was an intern at WCC for three months, from mid-December to mid-February
and I found that it was a life changing experience. Before coming to WCC I had
studied at an Australian university, volunteered at a community legal centre and
worked as an administrative clerk at a local law firm in Adelaide where I live.
My role at WCC was to assist with legal research within the advocacy work area.
This involved researching and writing law reform recommendations for WCC to submit
to the government. This was of its work with the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality
(JAG), a coalition of women’s rights organisations. I also did research on legal
proceedings for cases going to court and created documents to assist with advocacy
and outreach work. The work at WCC was very stimulating because I was able to see
how WCC has actually helped change women’s lives for the better, especially through
their advocacy work. This made every research assignment I had interesting and
motivated me to work hard to find the information needed and compile comprehensive findings.
Initially in order to familiarise myself with Malaysian law, government systems and WCC’s work,
I read several WCC publications such as Surviving Court: A Guide to Understanding the Criminal Court
Process, a guidebook that helps victims understand the court process. I also had the opportunity to
attend a two-day presentation skills workshop run by a consultant trainer, in which I also learnt how to
effectively get a message across to different target audiences; for instance how to convey the
importance of WCC’s work to a group of potential funders, or how to talk to children about sexual abuse
prevention. I also learnt so much through doing various tasks support the advocacy team and also by
participating in workshops and meetings.
One of the best aspects of interning at WCC was the people. Everyone was extremely welcoming
and willing to share their stories and ask questions about my life in Australia. This made it easy for me to
learn and bring the skills I had to offer to the workplace. I am extremely grateful to WCC for giving me the
chance to intern at such an inspiring women’s rights organisation in its 30 th year of service.
Eleanor Kay, Law student at University of Adelaide
Reflections of A Volunteer
I volunteered at PPW once a week for the past two years, and am very grateful for the wonderful
opportunity. When I first met PPW’s Coordinator, Say Tee, I was at a very low point in my life, and was exhibiting symptoms of depression. I had a tendency to overthink things and would get anxious very easily.
Say Tee taught me techniques to shift my negative mindset to a positive one and helped me challenge
unhelpful beliefs that did not serve me. Gradually my mental health improved.
Wanting to stay connected with the place that had helped me get back on track, I began
volunteering with PPW. The voluntary work has helped regain my self-confidence and critical thinking skills. It
lifted me out of my depression. Undergoing training sessions and attending workshops on various topics
including gender, domestic violence, and communication within families, has greatly enhanced my
knowledge.
Even though I only volunteered once a week, the learning I obtained through interacting with people who came to the Centre to seek help is precious. In the two years there was plenty of
opportunity for me to observe, analyze, and reflect on various aspects of life. I have had to deal with the importance of self-empowerment and the need to garner one’s inner strength. My confidence and inner
strength are growing still, and I am leaving PPW with greater courage to face life’s challenges.
I am
going back to join the workforce.
Goldfish (pen name), a housewife
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WCC IN THE MEDIA
Kwong Wah Yit Poh, 28 January 2015
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WCC IN THE MEDIA
The Star, 9 March 2015
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WCC IN THE MEDIA
China Press, 9 March 2015
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WCC IN THE MEDIA
Berita Harian 19 March 2015
Newslink Production Team
Writing and Editing:
Laika Jumabhoy, Loh Cheng Kooi and Chang Mei Leng
Layout and Artwork
Hasanah Akhir, Yeoh Bee Yen and Aliya Jumabhoy
Contributors:
Hasanah Akhir, Joshua Teh, Laika Jumabhoy, Mangles Subramaniam, Melissa M. Akhir, Ooi Say Tee,
Tasha Merican, Yeoh Bee Yen, Dharma Arjunan, Choo Ai Naa, Deborah Chin, Lim Pei Yi,
Tan Chew Yann, Eleanor Kay & Goldfish (pen name)
This NewsLink was made possible through the generosity of Dato’ Mustafa and Dato’ Lubna Jumabhoy
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