The project is my real-life story — the abusive marriage which I found myself in. My children have involved especially the eldest one because she was at least ten years old. My husband used to cheat on me, when he came from seeing his mistress, he would become angry at small things and beat me. He would take his frustrations on our daughter too, that was the most painful part on my side.
What skills and resources were you able to draw from the community for this project?
No one helped me. I got assistance from the Common Good First Digital Storytelling workshop.
The challenges
The reason for setting up my project is to make women who are still in an abusive relationship/marriage to say 'NO" to domestic violence. They should get out of the marriage before horrible things happen to them, unlike me, I was afraid to get out of the marriage in time because my husband threatened to kill me when I leave him. I only decided to leave him after he nearly burnt the kids in the house and me. It should not come to that for one to see that the person you are with does not love you as a person.
Addressing the challenges
I think women who will listen to my story will take my advice. I know many women suffer in silence because they protect their title of being "Mrs So and So", they are afraid of what people will say when they leave their partners. They want their children to have both parents under one roof, whereas their children suffer emotionally and spiritually.
The achievements
After this project, I feel relieved because I have bottled this story for twenty-four years. It is for the first time I come in the open to tell this story. Wow! What a good feeling I have at this moment.
Token Project / Move One Million
Johannesburg, South Africa