Asroy: The Safe House

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In 2001 Tarango opened a safe house in Dhaka for victims of domestic violence, child marriage, and trafficking.

While staying at the home the women receive counseling, skills training, legal and social support to slowly give them the skills to care for themselves. I visited the home on Friday night with two doctors from Germany that were supplying a well visit for the women. The women were so young, but I know they have come from a very troubled past. For women to seek refuge here it likely means they are coming from very serious abuse situations. It is common for poor parents to send their daughters to work in different parts of the country or surrounding countries. They believe their daughters will have jobs such as a seamstress, nanny, cook or maid. But, it is more likely that they are trafficked either in an official capacity at a brothel or by the the men of the family for whom they work.

After the visit with the women at the shelter, Kohinoor invited us back to her home for dinner. She said she is fortunate to have a husband that has supported her work. But her in-laws did not and she had many years of struggles when they were still alive. She had a modest home she shared with her husband, daughter, and two granddaughters. They prepared a lovely meal and I had a chance to speak with her daughter who is my age. She is head strong like her mother though she has doubts about the changes that can be made for women's rights here as long as religion has such a powerful hold over society. She is both a professor at a local university and works for Tarango.

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Comments

[Beth]

Sarah, I have read and reread your posts. What an incredible experience, your have a wonderful heart for people. The situations for the girls is heartbreaking. Please be careful and safe. The street food worries me. God bless you