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Thursday, May 18, 2006
Oledan: Advocacy
By Radzini Oledan
Slice of Life
"WALA'Y nasayod sa tinuod namong naagian, walay nakahibalo sa kalisod ug kabug-at sa among dug-han," Lorianne (not her real name), 15 years of age said.
At a tender age of nine, Lorianne was raped by her own father. She has no choice but to keep silent for fear of being blamed as the cause of unpeace in their household.
Every time her mother would go to the market to sell fruits and vegetables, her father would go to her room and lock the door. It was a situation that she has to suffer for almost four years.
By the age of 13, Lorianne run away and sought refuge in the streets. Home for her was not a safe place to stay.
The lack of affection and comfort in her own home drove her to seek it out in youngsters who have come to regard the streets as their home.
By age 15, she joined other teenagers in a Casa in Cebu where they were originally recruited for a job as household help. Two years later, she was part of the group who was rescued by an inter-agency task force on trafficking.
Since then, she has been a part of a network, which allows other people to understand more on the situation of young girls and women who are trafficked.
"By speaking to other people and sharing my own personal experience, I am able to rise above the feeling of humiliation and worthlessness and at the same time, I am able to convey the message that children and youth like us have never choosed the kind of life we had," Lorianne said.
Rape, incest, and other forms of violence can change the life of a child forever. There are those who are never able to rise above the pain, the rage, the humiliation, while others seem to transcend the violence and rebuild their lives.
What distinguishes those who transcend the violation like Lorianne? Support networks and their personal courage and strength to face their past and deal with the social stigma and stereotypes that shuts off opportunities for prostituted women and children like her to be listen and heard.
Her story is a testament to the capacity of women and men to support women survivors. It shows chances. In fact hope, that there are things that more than knowing, understanding other people involves a process of unlearning and leaving away all of the prejudices that has shaped our psyche for several years. It provides a glimpse on the capacity of young women to not only confront their situation but also bring about changes in the lives of other people.
Changes may not be drastic. By providing a face and becoming the voice for countless others who are struggling with their own circumstances, these young people's narratives provides hope that more than victimization, young people and women can rise up and help other survivors.
These also challenges us to be open to their stories, to do away with our own biases and prejudices to fully allow ourselves to understand and respect their perspective, as well as recognize that beyond the battered soul and bodies are persons who have the full capacity to take part in the transformation process.
While we desperately need women survivors to come out and share their experiences, there is also a sense of urgency for an unlearning process to take place.
By giving value to the voices of young people and women survivors, we are able to show that we trust them enough to include them in any undertaking.
Community building and social transformation does not rest upon armchair advocates and self-professed intellectuals in the academe, it can only take place when no single person is left out in the development endeavor.
Let us start by opening up ourselves and embracing these youth and women survivors as they are. They too have stories to tell. They too can do something for the community.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (May 18, 2006 issue)
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