Binisha Finds A Safe Village

They say a village raises a child, and Binisha (16) happens to come from a village that is cruel to women, especially victims of uncontrolled circumstances. With a village like that, it’s very likely for a child to run away. Binisha comes from a low-income family in Nepal. Her parents are daily wage laborers, and despite their salaries, they still struggle to meet their basic needs.

As if to deal with the realities of their dire situation, her parents found an even worse coping mechanism: alcohol. Their drinking not only affects their family’s financial status, but also their household harmony. Binisha stopped attending school and instead stayed at home to help with the chores.

It’s always the vulnerable who people with malevolent spirits try to take advantage of. As if knowing her situation, a local boy raped her. When Binisha’s mother filed a rape complaint against the boy, their village judged and ostracized her instead of showing empathy and support. Every day, Binisha felt like she was subjected to the cruel and judgmental eyes of her fellow villagers.

It has been increasingly difficult for her to remain in the community, which she once considered her own home, so when an acquaintance asked her to join him for free schooling, she accepted. It seemed like an amazing deal to be away from her current environment and rejoin school at the same time. However, upon arriving, she was instead taken to a hotel and forced to work as a dishwasher. As if forced labor was not enough, she was also subjected to sexual abuse. She endured it while she could, and when her mother knew about it, she immediately alerted the authorities and our organization.

We immediately acted and transferred her to our Women’s Safe Haven and Vocational Center. She received counseling and emotional support there, and she expressed feeling safe there. Finally, after all she had gone through, she found her village in our Safe Haven.

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