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Charity helps abused girls

To assist young female victims of domestic abuse in Hualien County, the Mennonite Good Shepherd Center yesterday held a fundraiser in Taipei at which items made by the girls themselves were on sale.

The center works mostly with girls who are victims of physical and sexual abuse and who are referred to the center through the court system.

"Through making tapestries, bookmarks, jewelry and so on, the girls learn more about themselves. When they see themselves making raw materials into things so beautiful, they think about transforming themselves as well," center aide Hsiao Jui-yun (蕭瑞雲) said.

Center workers said that helping the girls was a long process requiring love and patience. Workers said many girls had difficulty trusting others, and were often surprised to learn that center workers sincerely wished to help them.

"When we ask the girls what they want most, surprisingly, we find that they always want to go home. However, when we ask them what they dislike most, they almost always answer `home' as well," said Chen Tsai-hui (陳在惠), the center's executive director.

The center's challenge was to be a place that was both like and unlike home, Chen said, adding that the girls needed a sense of stability. They could then begin to develop self-confidence and make life plans.

Center workers said that they see a large number of young Aboriginal women. However, Chen said, it was not necessarily true that poorer communities had higher rates of sexual abuse.

"Families are more protective in the cities, so it's harder for social workers and the government to become aware of instances of sexual abuse. In poorer areas, it's more obvious to everyone in the community if something is happening, and we can find out about it," Chen said.

Also on display were pictures that previous clients created while they were in therapy (the artists gave permission for their work to be displayed). The pictures offered a hint of the abuse the girls faced at home, with some featuring images of hope and others of violence.

One picture, scribbled over with red crayon, used stick figures to show the artist being raped at home and struck by her parents.

"The pictures displayed here are typical of those created by girls who face trauma at home. Many of these girls find it difficult to talk about their experiences, so we find that drawings are a good way to see what is really going on in their minds," said Cheng Su-ling (鄭淑玲), the center's chairwoman.
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