Sunshine House staff handle consulting information and provide 24/7 support.
Journey through the darkness
Ms. LTP, from Cam Thuy commune, is a worker who returned from abroad. She had hoped that after many years of hardship in a foreign land, life would be better when she reunited with her family. However, the reality was more cruel than she had imagined. During her absence, her husband sold all their property and indulged in gambling and drinking. Not only was she left penniless, but her husband also beat and chased her away, forcing her and her children to take temporary refuge in the village cultural house.
Realizing the dangerous and desperate situation, the local government supported her to connect with NNAD. Here, she and her daughter were arranged accommodation, supported with all living expenses, psychological care and legal advice. In particular, her daughter was supported with a scholarship worth 1 million VND/month (for 1 year) to continue studying, helping her stabilize her mind and overcome the trauma.
After more than a month of staying, with the support of the center's staff, she officially divorced her husband and found a stable job at a local business. "If it weren't for this place, my children and I wouldn't have known where to go or where to go in this time of despair," Ms. P shared when leaving the center.
From Trieu Son, Ms. LTL's story is also a long journey of pain. A retired teacher, she lived nearly three decades in a life of violence by her husband. Starting in 1994, the beatings and insults eroded both her body and soul. The climax was in March 2022, after a serious assault, she called the hotline 18001744 and was taken to NNAD. Here, she was supported with accommodation, medical care, legal advice and companionship during the divorce process. In particular, with in-depth psychological support, she gradually overcame her trauma and returned to a peaceful life with her children. Now, she has become a social worker, helping to connect many other victims to this safe house. "From the hell of violence, I found myself again," she wrote tearfully in a letter to UNFPA.
From the above stories, it can be seen that NNAD is not just a simple shelter. It is the starting point for lives to be revived. Where each victim who steps out is no longer a victim, but a strong, brave person.
House of Hope
NNAD is a model of a one-stop service center to support people who suffer from gender-based violence, formed from the cooperation between the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Government of Vietnam. In 2021, Thanh Hoa became the second locality in the country to be selected to pilot this model. On January 22, 2022, the model officially went into operation, located at the Thanh Hoa Social Work Service Center under the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs (now the Department of Home Affairs).
With its address kept strictly confidential, NNAD provides an ecosystem of essential and comprehensive services for victims of violence: Counseling, psychological support, medical care, shelter, legal support, life skills education and community connection. In addition, the free 24/7 hotline 18001744 also helps people find timely support when needed.
Sunshine House staff provide psychological support to victims of gender-based violence.
Nguyen Van Phuc, Head of the Counseling and Care Department, Thanh Hoa Social Work Service Center, who is also the coordinator of NNAD, said: “This is a trusted address not only for women and girls who are victims of violence in Thanh Hoa but also in neighboring provinces. Here, you can rest assured that you will be listened to, protected and fully supported to rebuild your life.”
After 3 years of operation, the center has provided safe support to 44 cases in need of temporary shelter, received 2,956 calls, including 697 calls related to gender-based violence, and directly intervened to support 222 cases in the community.
Realizing the urgency and social effectiveness of the model, in early 2025, the Provincial People's Committee approved the project document "Maintaining the operation of the NNAD model" for the period 2025-2026, using 100% of non-refundable ODA capital from UNFPA worth 80,000 USD. In the new period, the model sets the goal of maintaining stable operation, improving the quality of staff, expanding communication on gender equality and services to protect victims of violence. About 600 staff at all levels will be trained, 15,000 media publications will be published, expanding coverage to communities, schools and vulnerable groups.
Not only continuing to be a “safe haven”, the project is expected to become a lever to change social awareness about gender-based violence. With a longer-term vision, the model contributes to perfecting the community support system, making the goal of “leaving no one behind” a reality.
NNAD is not only a model to support women and children who are victims of violence, but also a symbol of compassion, community responsibility and the desire for change. Coming out of the darkness, the light shines again, illuminating many lives so that they can move towards equality and love.
Article and photos: Tran Hang
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/noi-anh-sang-xoa-diu-ton-thuong-256807.htm
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