Technical writing
Mental health and online community for rape victims in the Philippines
Support, heal, encourage, these are the things that a woman must receive in order for her to fully moved-on from traumatic experiences – this is beauty in brokenness. This is the official website of beauty in brokenness. This is an online platform for individuals who have already survived from this heinous crime-rape. We promote support, healing and restoration of pride and purpose of living by providing interactive community and counseling services from professionals.
This online community is monitored by volunteers who wanted to take part of this organization. Outreach programs and awareness for schools and private companies will be regularly conducted so as to provide its platform. This will be done through the help of Rotary Club of Makati McKinley. This community also bridges the gap of being unheard and not being able to serve support from others. Note that this psychological therapy is free of charge for those qualified ones. This non-profit organization depends on the pure heart of its donors.
This is funded by Ma. Katrina Madriaga, President-Elect of Rotary Club of Makati McKinley (Rotary Year-). Her advocacy of helping rape victims to recover from tragic incident is because of her personal experiences and struggles. She was raped in August last year that caused her mental and emotional damage. With the heinous crime that must be solved through legal matters, one must be financially stable and emotionally undisturbed to undergo such case. Aside from the legal matters that could really be helpful to her, it is really the psychological help that assisted her to become a rape survivor. According to her, if mental health would not be taken care of properly, it would be very difficult for a victim to continue fighting for justice and it would be impossible to move on from the that traumatic experience. In addition, inner strength also matters. The battle for regaining pride and purpose of living would be very difficult without inner strength. One also includes the presence of denials and other struggles that one experiences-these things would really make the situation worsen for it doesn’t help the healing. Thou, these were part of the process, one must be able to let things out, stand tall and gain pride again.
Note also that everybody will not understand the same way you feel, they cannot feel that you are feeling inside. And the ones that could really help you are the ones that have experienced the same crime and situation. The ones who have undergone the same pain as you feel; the ones who have overcome self-denial, emotional damage; the one who was once a victim; the ones who once lost their pride and couldn’t even help oneself. They are the ones that could help you plus the professionals that study such cases. Having good communication with these individuals helps the victim be open again. This enables the victim to be heard without holding back fear and shame; without judgements and questionable sights. Ma. Katrina’s journey to healing started when she became more open about what happened to her. It took her courage with long search of right people to surround her; the people whom she can freely share her story without holding back. With that, she overcame fear and shame. Thou she cannot remove the pain that this nightmare have caused her, she never forgets that, that pain is for the woman she used to be after the rape incident.
One must have the courage to fight and the faith to strive from that traumatic experience. These were the reasons why Ma. Katrina Madriaga pushes her advocacy of regaining self-pride through this only community. She is dedicated to help the mental health of these individuals who have experienced the same as hers. With this, she thought of having it through this online community. In here, the victims could find the comfort through interacting with victims of the same crime, communicating what they have in mind, and sharing the pains that they are feeling. With these things, the individuals would eventually be free from fear, shame, and judgements.
Let us help these individuals to find the purpose of their living in spite of what happened. Let us help Ma. Katrina Madriaga build the platform for them, for their stories, for their pains to be released from their hearts, for their lost pride, and for them to find beauty in their brokenness. These will be possible through interacting in this platform, with of course, your generosity and help. The interactions with the rape victims will be done by the experts and professionals without paying an expensive hour per rate.
Access to mental health professionals in the Philippines is not possible for most people, especially when compared to other countries. The Philippine justice system gives rape victims a hard time to achieve justice. If we could help the victim with their needs on mental health, we will at least lessen their burden and give them the strength to continue fighting and living their life with purpose. This community will remind them that they are not alone on their fight, that there are people who are willing to listen and care for them and are available whenever they need them. A community where rape victims can come together and can support each other while expressing themselves without being judged. Extending hands to the raped victims would be really helpful.