Priya* is a small woman. She often stays quietly in the background, keeping a vigilant eye on her children, ready to reprimand them if they are too unruly. When addressed, though, she lights up with a shy and genuine smile, and if she is asked to sing shocks us all with her confidence and talent.

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Priya belongs to the community of construction workers and manual laborers. These are the people who build up India's structures, one bucket of concrete and one row of cement blocks at a time. In this community abuse is common, and help is almost totally unavailable. 

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Priya was married when she was fifteen or sixteen (she is not exactly sure) to a man of her family's choice. Within a few years this girl was mother to two children. To her despair, she soon discovered that her husband's abuse was more than she could bear. He was a terrifying man—sometimes raging into fits of murderous fury. She dealt with her fate as long as she could, fearing for her own life and those of her children, and watching her son begin to imitate his father’s outbursts of temper and violence. 

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After years of fearing for her life, Priya reached a breaking point. Not all of her family supported her, but one brother helped her to make contact with a women's organisation, who referred her to IFW and helped her to file a case of domestic violence against her husband. She even won the case! 

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Priya's husband was put in jail, and he was furious.

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He vowed that as soon as he was free, he would find her and kill her. Now he is free and searching. The relatives who helped her have been forced to shift houses several times to avoid his wrath. Despite his search, Priya and her children are safe and recovering. Previously, Priya was not educated at all. She could not even read her native language. When she first reached the IFW Shelter, her self-confidence could hardly have been lower. Her elementary-aged children had never been to school and would scream and cry if they were parted from their mother even for a few seconds.

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Step by step, we've had the joy of seeing this family blossom. Priya was prescribed antidepressants because of the severity of her depression, and the entire family received ongoing counselling. Priya has also completed training courses in embroidery, computers, basic spoken English, tailoring, and beautician skills. The same organisation that trained her has now employed her, and she is on her way to supporting herself and her children.​

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The children were put in school and provided with tutoring. They are the first of their family ever to attend school. Priya's son is excelling academically. He is almost always first or second in his class, was double-promoted, and given a full scholarship for his schooling by a local NGO. His behavior has improved markedly, and we observe that he is unlearning many of the violent habits he had picked up in their home. Priya’s daughter, while not excelling as far as her brother in school, is thriving socially. From a girl who would not leave her mother’s side for even a few seconds, she has become a bubbly, talkative, outgoing child.​

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Challenges remain in Priya’s case. As with many victims of abuse, maladaptive habits of coping and survival have carried over into her present life. Priya is often at the center of conflicts over food—thinking that she hasn’t been given enough or as much as others. Occasional outbursts of anger toward her children or slumps into depression reveal an ongoing need for emotional work. Now that she is earning, Priya needs to learn how to save and spend money wisely.

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Priya’s story is one of great hope and resilience. She feared for her life, and felt powerless to save herself. Now she has the strength and confidence to build a happy future.

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We have seen her overcome many challenges and difficulties, and are confident that she and her children will continue to do so.