Extraordinary mothers: Protecting daughters from violence

At Embrace, we are privileged to hear stories of the incredible bravery, resilience and resourcefulness of mothers who (with a little bit of help from the projects we support) have overcome the odds and built safer, better lives for themselves and their families.

This week we meet Nadeen, who had to go to extraordinary lengths to keep her two young daughters safe from the violent and unpredictable behaviour of their father.

NADEEN’S STORY

Perhaps it was the stress of his intensely physical work as a garbage collector, worry about how to earn enough to make ends meet, or living in poor-quality housing in an overcrowded suburb on the edge of Cairo; whatever the cause, Nadeen’s husband turned to drugs. His drug abuse made him violent and unpredictable and ultimately led to the family being evicted from their home.

Although earning very little herself, Nadeen started again, finding a new home for her and her daughters. But then her husband returned – bringing with him chaos and fear.

Concerned for the safety of her daughters, Nadeen considered taking the drastic step of putting them into an orphanage. But although physically safe, the psychological trauma of such a separation would have been immense.

Thankfully, Nadeen was able to instead find help through The Rock Project, which Embrace supports. Through the project, Nadeen moved to safe accommodation, received help with essential supplies, and, importantly, childcare for her youngest daughter so that she could go out to work.

Although life is still tough (as a garbage collector and sorter Nadeen is only able to earn a small wage, despite long hours), Nadeen has kept her children together and safe and, she says, she now has hope for the future.

*Image for illustrative purposes only. Credit: Huma Yardim, Unsplash