GtG-68 | A3’s Story | Kazakhstan 2020

Do you feel your story contributed something to other women?

I wanted to share some part of my family in my story, because I think a lot of people have similar situations, and I hope my story will give some motivation to them. That is why I wanted to share it.

Why did you say yes to this project?

I wanted to support women because this project is all about girls and gender-based violence. My mom experienced a lot of violence and abuse, and I also did, but I was a little girl. That is why I wanted to support all the women and to help them.

Do you have any advice for other women?

You have to stay strong, always. Don’t be afraid of anything and move forward. You have to analyze what others are saying, listen to them, but not really to internalize it.

GtG-67 | K’s Story | Kazakhstan 2020

What is the main point of your story?

I got married at 17, and since childhood. I’ve had a dream to have a big family, children, and parents. When I got married I had no parents, no mother... I loved him, I trusted him, and I put my life in his hands... Then several problems started. I saw a different person, not my husband. He was not my husband whom I married... He started to hit me... I got the power to go away. When I found myself in the hospital with several kinds of injuries, it was very big trouble... I came home, took my children, and left my husband.

Why did you select this story?

I lived this life, and I want to tell women that every woman can do this. Not every woman can speak about this... By my example, maybe they can be conscious that they are not alone.

Did you have any realizations about yourself?

When I started to write about my problem or started to draw my problem, I realized my soul became more free.

Do you feel you gave something to other women?

By sharing my story, I wanted to give knowledge about their power to leave and their power to change their own situations. You can all do this.

Why did you say yes to this project?

There is a center, which helps victims of domestic violence, and they said I should go to these seminars. I said yes, and the first day of the seminars, I felt big emotions. I am grateful to the girls who sent me here.

Do you feel connected to other women here or around the world?
Yes, you feel more compassion for these women and yourself, and to not have shame.

GtG-66 | A2’s Story | Kazakhstan 2020

Why did you select this story?

This story changed me fully. I didn’t know who I was until this situation. I was very different than how I am now. Now, I look for words differently. I can’t trust men. I can’t give them my life. So, now I am two different girls.

Did you have any realizations about yourself?

After this situation, I divorced him. I have a child, a daughter, and she gave me motivation to leave my situation. Afterward, I felt stressed and depressed. But then my daughter helped me move from this situation and to look forward toward the future... I can’t be sad. Despite the judgement from society, keep your self-confidence.

Do you feel that in sharing your story you will have given something to other women in the world?

I want women to get from my story... Value yourself. If it’s domestic violence, you should go out and live your life... From this situation I have learned that all people judge me that I cannot financially support my daughter. It will be very hard to live separately from my husband, financially, like to buy clothes, etc. These words I hope give me power and motivation to action. Yes, I have done it, I am successful. I’m on the list to get a house from the government.

Why did you say yes to this project?

I wanted to join this project as it gives girls motivation. And If I can do it, they can do it too... My main reason is that I wanted to be a representative of women’s rights, human rights.

Do you have any advice for other young women in the world?

I want to tell you that everything is possible in this world... Despite any problems, you should move toward the future and have new challenges for yourself, and always love yourself... Every woman deserves to be happy and your happiness is in your hands. Don’t let other people shame you or abuse you.

GtG-65 | M2’s Story | Kazakhstan 2020

Why did you select this story to tell?
This is the main issue in my life right now. Any realizations about yourself?

Until I came here, I thought I was the only one with such a problem. But after coming here, I was introduced to the problems of other girls. I realized I am not the only one who has a problem. There are girls who have bigger situations, bigger issues.

Do you feel you have given something to other women?

I want to tell other women that face domestic violence, they should speak about this, tell their parents and tell society. Don’t keep it inside.

Do you feel more connected to other women?

I work at a beauty salon, working on eyebrows. I have girl clients at the beauty salon, and I brought them here.

Do you have any advice for other women?

I want to tell young women to be yourself, love yourself, and always do everything yourself. Don’t feel shame when you are sharing your stories. If you want to say something, just tell it and feel it.

GtG-64 | Z2’s Story | Kazakhstan 2020

Why did you select this story?

I decided to share this story, because I believe there are some similar situations that people may have. It was psychological abuse toward my mother and toward me, because I was little at that time.

Did sharing your story bring up any realizations about yourself?

During this workshop, firstly, I learned how to feel comfortable, safe, and relaxed, maybe opened up a little. While making this story, I was thinking maybe I should reconsider my relationship with my aunt.

GtG-63 | Z1’s Story | Kazakhstan 2020

What do you want other people to take away from your story?

Those who are bullying should feel ashamed and not you. You have to accept yourself the way you are.

Why did you select this story?

I think [violence] is often happening in our society, but I think a lot of people consider it as normal, and no one is sharing it, and everyone is keeping this inside of them.

Did you have any realizations about yourself?

You have to believe in yourself. I felt a lot more confidence during this workshop, and I opened up. When other girls were sharing their stories, I felt that I am not alone and they are experiencing the same feelings that I am.

Do you feel you have given something to other women?

When my story will be on the platform and published, I hope and think it will help, because it is like motivation.

Why did you say yes to the project?
I wanted to open up, because I am very shy, timid, and closed, and I want to overcome this.

GtG-62 | Y’s Story | Kazakhstan 2020

What do you want people to take away?

Don’t feel desperate. You have to believe that behind this door, there is another door.

Do you feel you have given something to other women?

I cannot speak for other women, but I can say for myself, the more I tell and the more I share this story, the more relief I feel.

Do you feel you connected with other women here or in other places?

Yes, probably more with women all over the world...There are eight billion people on planet Earth and let’s say, four billion are women. And I hope there are two, or three, or ten thousand, or only one, that feels exactly the same that I felt. And I hope that she can relate to that story and I can relate to her story... I remember this quote from the Talmud, Jewish holy book: “If you have saved one life, you have saved a whole nation.”

Do you feel any more compassion towards yourself since sharing your story?

It’s a very painful topic for me right now. I usually do a lot of things to forget myself... I do not know how to feel compassion towards myself. I am that horse that will run until it dies... This workshop is a good thing and a good initiative to just realize myself, and to stop and take a breath, and to take a look at even a small part of my life from the other angle.

GtG-61 | V’s Story | Kazakhstan 2020

Why did you select this story?

Because it is the most powerful and yet, the most horrible story in my life.

Did you have any realizations about yourself?

I still cannot realize how I managed to get in between the bars, because it was very, very thin. I don’t know how I could do that. That is the strongest point of my story and for me still.

Do you feel you have given something to other women?

Yes, the main thing I want them to know is that if at some point in their lives, they have a similar situation, that they will pull themselves together and fight... There are not only evil people out there, there are a lot of good people that will help and that will support them.

Do you feel more connected to women here or around the world?

Yes, I feel more connected, and I know that we all have similar stories. Our stories that we are making now, our little videos will be published globally, and so many girls all over the world will watch them. I hope and think that it will help them at some point in their lives.

Do you feel more compassion towards yourself?

When other girls were sharing their stories, I remembered my story, and I related to them... I pulled myself together, and I escaped from that, and I am happy for that... So, that is why I feel protected and safe.

Advice to other women?
Trust yourself. And to be brave, strong, and bold.

GtG-60 | M1’s Story | Kazakhstan 2020

Can you tell us what you want people to take away from your story?

I want to tell you that a woman can make her life better on her own.

Why did you select this story?

When I was told to share some story, the first thing that came to mind was this story. Probably because this story still hurts inside. And because I see them on social networks and in life sometimes, and I always remembered what happened.

Why did you say yes to this project?

I thought even if I can help somebody, I should do it. The only question that I asked, if it was anonymous or not. When they said it was totally anonymous, I decided that I should do it. And if this really helps, I am ready for the interview to come out.

Do you feel more connected to other women here or around the world?

Yes, definitely I feel more connected, because when I was watching a story from Chile, I don't know Spanish, and I was only reading. I didn’t know what she was talking about, but only hearing her voice made me realize that I felt her pain, and I realized I could really understand what she was talking about.

Any advice to young women around the world around violence or inequality?

My dear beautiful ladies, I want to say never sacrifice yourself. We only have one life to live. Don’t think that it’s too late. It’s never too late. Even if you only have a little part of your life, live it happily. I know how strong we are, and I love you so much.