“After I got home, I didn’t say a word about what happened to me to anyone. Now I don’t walk in the evenings. I don’t trust men. If I hear stories like mine, my heart races.”
GTG-71 | A-A1‘s Story | Kazakhstan 2022
“I share this story because I want to warn other young women not to rush into marriage. Be aware of your rights and have a high level of self-respect. Because I am deeply hurt.”
GTG-70 | A-A‘s Story | Kazakhstan 2022
“If this similar story happens to another girl, please don’t be silent and solve the problem soon. Because I feel great regret inside.”
GTG-69 | A‘s Story | Kazakhstan 2022
What do you want young women to take from your story?
The main point I want other girls to take from this story is to not hide and cut themselves off, because if I kept it to myself, I would’ve suffered a lot more.
Did you have any realizations during this project?
When the situation happened, I blocked myself from feeling any kind of emotions. I wanted to cry but the tears couldn’t come out. The situation happened approximately a year ago, but here and now is the first time I’ve allowed myself to go through it and cry about it. It’s such a release.
Do you feel you gave something to other women?
Yes, I do feel that I have my own contribution to this because I know a lot of stories when relatives commit violence towards their younger sisters, and they all keep silent. And by telling my story, I feel like they also would not feel alone or this loneliness. Just after this accident, I was afraid to go outside in the darkness. I would start shaking when a man came next to me, I would start sweating, my heart was racing. I couldn’t feel comfortable, I couldn’t feel good, when any man would come around me. But now I feel like I’m overcoming this.
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.