Do you ever turn off the news because it all feels too bleak?
It's easy to feel bombarded by stories that leave us feeling like we can't make a difference...but you are making a difference!
Addie* was referred to our Young Women's Program, this is her story.
The world had never felt safe for Addie. While only a little child, her parents hadn’t been able to care for her, so Addie moved around a lot…not settling anywhere for long.
The world is a scary place for a child without a safe person: scary and dangerous. By the time she was fifteen, things were getting very dangerous.
Longing for a place to belong, Addie agreed to whatever people asked, even when things felt all wrong. She learned to ignore her feelings as photos were taken and she was led places she didn’t want to go: shutting down her emotional warning system left Addie at high risk of serious exploitation.
Addie didn’t know what to expect when first meeting our Young Women’s Program worker 12 months ago…but what she found was a person who listened, who respected her feelings, and who felt safe.
“I’m not the same person I was 8 months ago.” Addie told us as we farewelled her for the last time…
She’s right: no longer at high-risk, at last Addie is safe for Christmas.
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Every woman and girl who engages with St Kilda Gatehouse has her own story – it is often a story of grief, trauma and extreme marginalisation.
When you support St Kilda Gatehouse you become an important part of creating a safe place for her healing.