She Was Down, but Not Out

(From left) Angel, Belinda, Sara and Yashodha are women who embrace second chances, and we celebrate them this International Women’s Day.

Growing up in poverty on the streets. Self-immolation in a bid to escape an abusive marriage.

These are daunting setbacks in life, but for women like Angel and Yashodha, they are only the beginnings of a new story.

Determined to find a positive path forward, they seized opportunities to forge second chances, drawing strength from adversity.

And it is these qualities that we are raising a toast to, on International Women’s Day this year — qualities lived out by four women whose stories we told.

Abandoned at a young age by her mother, Angel overcame her struggles, and went from street kid to university student, driven by her love for school and supported by Tahanan Sta Luisa, a shelter for street girls. She plans to be a teacher and hopes her journey can inspire her future students to look forward with positivity.

Yashodha set herself on fire to escape an abusive marriage, but recovered with the help of  International Foundation for Crime Prevention and Victim Care (PCVC), a non-profit that advocates against domestic violence. Now leading an independent life, she mentors other women in crisis. 

Sara (not her real name) and her family fled war-torn Afghanistan to Malaysia, where many refugees end up in limbo as they await the chance for resettlement. But through The Picha Project, she found a way to support her family, as well as improve the understanding between Malaysians and the refugee community. 

Belinda initially feared the worst when her mother, Katherine, was diagnosed with dementia. But she came to see her situation as a chance to make new and joyful memories with her mother daily. Now, she is both a participant and a volunteer at Memories Cafe, a programme by Alzheimer’s Disease Association Singapore for people with dementia and their caregivers. 

These women inspire us because they have not only embraced their second chances, but are working to uplift others in their community. This International Women’s Day, we celebrate them.