Finding a true identity: Solace from an incredible tragedy

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Most middle class girls from my community growing up had a typical vision of life- dreaming of finding a good husband and then leading a happy married life.

Once upon a time my imagination didn’t drift beyond this same dream. But now I find it funny, considering what I am doing with my life now. Working with World Vision Bangladesh has opened my eyes to so many things that were beyond my imagination.

I can proudly say that I am serving marginalized people, especially when I meet girls like Beauty*.

I cannot even fathom the tragedy that happened to Beauty. It’s hard to believe that a girl can be treated like a commodity and sold by her own husband.

She was obligated to choose the imprisonment of marriage at the age of 16.

Due to extreme poverty and an extended family with eight members, Beauty had to discontinue her education when she was in grade five. After that she was obligated to choose the imprisonment of marriage at the age of 16.

This was not the end of the tragedy, but just the beginning.

Her husband sold her to a brothel in Mumbai, India where she spent about 6 months. She was forced to take customers every night.

Her only thoughts were of returning home.

With the help of one benevolent client she managed to call her family, and soon she was rescued from the brothel and sent home.

The painful journey turned even more dreadful when she realized that she was expecting a baby. She had no prospects for the future and she trembled reflecting on how she would nurture a child alone.

At that time, Child Safety Net Project, a World Vision Bangladesh programme, provided her with support to open a grocery shop. In no time, Beauty started to make a fair income and now she is expanding her shop with the profits she’s earned. Learn more about World Vision Child Protection programmes

Beauty’s daughter is now 2-years-old, but Beauty is not keen to marry again as she cannot trust anyone.

When I met her she said, “I have gone through the toughest time of my life. Sometimes I cannot express my feelings but when I see my daughter playing in my yard, I forget the suffering that I have gone through. I will make sure that my daughter will not suffer like me and to do this I will make her educated enough to choose the right person.”

She utters with tears in her eyes, “World Vision has supported me when I was in badly need. Now I am earning and not a burden to anyone. My community has also accepted me in a good way because of the advocacy of World Vision. I want World Vision to keep working for girls like me so that they can have a reason to live.”

“Confidence is not about being self-centred, it is about being emotionally centred, so you can better see other people.”

I do not know whether her teardrops were sorrow or happiness, but as I listened to her, I realised that I had found my identity.

I read somewhere, “Confidence is not about being self-centred, it is about being emotionally centred, so you can better see other people.”

When I met Beauty and learned about the changes in her life through the support of World Vision, I was assured that I am serving the ultimate creation of God that is mankind. That is indeed, my identity.

Maybe I won’t be too renowned in the world but at the end of the day I have the solace of being a true development worker.

 

*Beauty is used as alias