The Story of Yasmin – Resilience in a World of Injustice

Yasmin* had no choice but to escape the vicious cycle of domestic violence in her home country. In too many countries around the world, simply being a woman is enough to become a target of state oppression and gender based violence. Every day at the ASRC we see women who have fled such persecution and violence. 

One such woman is Yasmin who wanted to share her story to let other women know that the shame is not theirs, they are not to blame, and they are not alone. At just 15, Yasmin was forced into marriage, and what followed was years of daily abuse and control. “At the time, I thought that was just normal,” reminisces Yasmin. 

Yasmin trained to become a doctor, but the abuse continued, and eventually Yasmin had to find a way to escape. She left home to find safety and protection. Seeking asylum is always a profoundly life-changing act – people seeking asylum have not only experienced trauma  that necessitated their leaving home, but have to negotiate the challenges of leaving their loved ones, losing their work and qualification, dealing with the bureaucracy of applying for protection, and moving to a new and unfamiliar place.

Negotiating this process is incredibly complicated and sadly, the system continues to fail people like Yasmin. Many are left in limbo by our government, with no work rights, no income support, and no access to healthcare. People seeking asylum want to work, study and rebuild their lives in safety, but our government policies continue to deprive them of their rights. 

And as the days grow colder and darker, the prospect of homelessness, illness and lack of access to nutritious food becomes perilous for women like Yasmin. Before too long, Yasmin’s savings were spent and she found herself at the risk of homelessness: “Suddenly I could not afford the rent anymore. I had no money left to even buy food. Being a woman out on the streets is not good. It was nice to have a roof over my head.”

The ASRC assisted Yasmin with crisis accommodation for two months while searching for a more permanent housing solution. She was given immediate access to our Foodbank – and was able to take groceries home the very first day she came to our centre, and the employment team began the process of helping her find a job. Yasmin was also referred to Refugee Legal and they were able to help her apply for her protection visa. 

At the ASRC Yasmin also discovered the health clinic, a turning point in her journey to reclaim both her physical and mental health. “The traumatic experiences followed me here, I had lost hope,” says Yasmin. 

“The new world around me was so overwhelming. I felt so alone. Finding a job was so hard too. Knowing there were people that cared about me… saved my life.”

Yasmin’s story is one of hardship and it is a story of recovery and reclaiming a life of freedom. With the cost of living crisis unabated, ASRC continues to see women and families in crisis and at risk of homelessness. Already deeply affected by the challenges of no income or work rights, they face additional hardships during winter. 

Every winter the ASRC launches its Winter Appeal – a call for donations to help refugees and people seeking asylum navigate the harsh winter months – to help people like Yasmin have somewhere to turn to when the money to buy food and medication, and to secure a roof over their heads, runs out. Thanks to the donations of our generous supporters, people like Yasmin can start to heal from past trauma and reclaim their lives in safety. 

Yasmin found a place at the ASRC where she felt welcomed, seen and cared for. The knowledge that she was not alone and there were people out there who wanted to help her, was the first step to regaining hope for her future: “It really amazes me there are people who will donate to help others they don’t even know. I wouldn’t be here without the ASRC… It’s really saved my life and I’ll be forever grateful.” 

This winter, help provide refugees and people seeking asylum like Yasmin with food, housing, healthcare, counselling and legal aid while they rebuild their lives in the community. 

* Name changed for privacy and protection.