My name is Hivi

My husband deprived me of everything. He refused to even spend money on me and my children for daily expenses. People in our neighbors, relatives and friends helped us, bringing us food, clothes, and sometimes small amounts of cash. We have been living on people's support and assistance as my husband does not work. Many many nights we slept with empty stomachs because there was no food on the table. The small amount cash of cash we are given by kind friends and relatives is spent on my daughter's medicine and treatment, as one of the daughters has diabetes.

I tried to commit suicide three times due to my suffering and living conditions. I could not see my children suffering in front of my eyes. My husband violated me many times, using different kinds of violence against me. I never defended myself, I did not know how to do it. Even my family used violence against me, and I always stayed silent.  

In mid-November 2020, Women for Women International's staff knocked at door and I registered my name to participate in the 12-months of training program after they told me what their program is about. After I joined WfWI's program I started to feel like a woman. I started to think of improving my life by learning new skills and knowledge from my program. I have learned to see my potential; it opened my eyes to see the world. 

"After I joined WfWI's program I started to feel like a woman. I started to think of improving my life by learning new skills and knowledge from my program."

In social empowerment classes, I learned how to defend myself, how to ask for support and respect my value as a mother and woman in my family.  One of the most interesting topics that I learned was the importance of women's role in family decision-making and the value of women working to be financially independent. I never thought of such matters.

I approached an SE trainer and asked for support additional support, so she referred me to SEED Foundation to receive psycho-social and legal services as I have been having lots of problems with my very violent husband. In addition to services, I even received a sewing machine to practice what I have been learning from my WfWI program.

I was motivated by my WfWI program to start establishing my business at home. I started also making bread and selling it to my neighbors and started to work as a cleaner, washing and cleaning houses near my home. I used the money that I generated for my children and their basic needs, including medicine and treatment for my daughter. 

"I was motivated by my WfWI program to start establishing my business at home."

I also try to save a little for good times and to improve my business at home as I know want to be a designer. I would love to design different types of clothes and also have a small bakery shop to sell and make bread. I even taught my children about savings, and I continue to teach them to understand the need to buy items since I have learned so many saving skills.

Now, the majority of my customers are women. It makes me so happy for all of them to support my business, many of them are participants of Women for Women International's training program too. My aim is to help other women who have the same living conditions as me. I want to deliver my message to them, they can make it and get out of their depression; we have all been through it. 

I would like to thank WfWI for providing such a relevant and important program in Shekhan to support women who are in dire need of support in order to improve their lives.

Names have been changed for the safety of the participant.