artswirls-mission

[artswirls-mission]

Sunita's Story

Sunita's future husband promised he would take care of her and support her. But once she arrived at her in-laws' home to live with him, she was forced to work 18 hours a day. She was beaten, sexually abused, locked in the closet, and given only leftover food scraps. Sunita later discovered the friend who had set her up with her husband had been financially compensated for the arrangement.

To torment her further, Sunita’s in-laws left her alone in the streets of New York City. Through the kindness of a stranger, she was connected with the New York Asian Women’s Center for assistance in her native language. NYAWC provided counseling, information and intensive case management on legal and medical matters, and connected her to resources to meet her basic needs. As a human trafficking survivor, Sunita applied for T-visa with the help of NYAWC. The agency also discussed her vocational and educational goals and supported her in achieving them.

Sunita obtained her T-Visa in 2010, which allows her to work in the U.S. She is currently working full time. She recently obtained her Masters in Business Administration. She received basic necessities such as food and clothing, rental support and medical assistance as a result of NYAWC’s support. Sunita’s harrowing journey into the trafficking world and her recovery from it have given her the courage and determination to recently speak about the issue in public. She hopes that by sharing her story, the public will be more knowledgeable about human trafficking and better prepared to help survivors.

[artswirls-mission]

Mimi's Story

Mimi was born in a rural part of China. She had a strong, happy relationship with her husband and they had three children. Her youngest daughter moved to the United States with her husband and two children. After her husband passed away, Mimi came to the U.S. to live with them. But when she arrived, her daughter forced her to work as a servant in her home. She cooked, cleaned, and took care of her grandchildren for five years. During this time, her daughter was constantly abusive towards her. Mimi finally fled the day that her daughter threw a pot of boiling water at her.

When she fled her daughter's home, Mimi was almost 70 years old. Although she was highly independent with day-to-day tasks, she was at a loss when it came to interacting with the outside world. Even though she had lived in the U.S. for five years, she did not know much about American culture, did not have any English language skills, and had no friends or family that could support her. Fortunately, she was referred to the NYAWC and entered one of our shelters.

NYAWC helped Mimi obtain an order of protection against her daughter from Family Court. Because she never learned how to use the subway, NYAWC taught her how to get to and from various places. Mimi eventually learned how to ride the subway, regularly taking it to her health clinic and to a Chinese senior center, where she began to participate in social activities. NYAWC also helped Mimi find an apartment in a supportive senior housing facility. Mimi soon entered her new apartment, became very independent, and is close friends with several of the other elderly women living in the facility.

“When I came to the U.S., I thought it was to spend my retirement surrounded by my beautiful grandchildren. But my daughter forced me to do all of the housework and would hit me and yell at me if I did not do something the way she liked it. I did not know there was a place that could help me until someone told me about the New York Asian Women's Center.” — Mimi

[artswirls-mission]

Wendy's Story

Wendy and her husband met while she was in medical school in the U.S., married and had a son together. Soon after they were married, her husband began to display a violent temper. He often screamed at her and pushed her during arguments, and the violence escalated over time. A year after their son was born, her husband threw her into a window; shattering the glass with her forehead. After neighbors called the police, he was arrested, but Wendy later dropped the charges in hopes of saving her marriage. The abuse continued, and ashamed, Wendy tried to hide the cuts and bruises from her colleges at the hospital where she worked.

The abuse continued in severe physical, psychological and financial forms until Wendy discovered her husband had been using her credit and forging her signature on multiple credit cards, running up over $100,000 in debt in her name. When she confronted him, he pushed her to the ground and began choking her, smothering her screams with a pillow. Before she passed out Wendy managed to grab her cell phone and dial a friend, who quickly called the police.

The police came and arrested her husband and referred Wendy to the NYAWC. Since then she has been closely working with her counselor. Wendy decided that to move forward with criminal proceedings and has received a criminal order of protection against her husband. She is working through the courts to clear the debt he ran up in her name. She is also reconstructing her life, moving into a new apartment, preparing for divorce and getting counseling help from NYAWC for her traumatized son.

“As a doctor, I had referred my own patients to domestic violence organizations, but I never thought to seek help for myself. I wanted to make my marriage work. My NYAWC counselor has helped me understand domestic violence better, and has supported me while I start my new life.” — Wendy

[artswirls-mission]

The effect of our services is far-reaching, impacting the lives of hundreds of women every year. Consider these statistics:

Every year NYAWC receives well over 5,000 calls to our hotline and assists more than 700 abused women and their children.

85% of the women we serve have a primary language other than English.

30% of the women we serve are not married to their abuser and therefore have fewer options for legal protection.

Women served by NYAWC report decreases in all forms of abuse. Women report a significant decrease in psychological abuse, thanks to being empowered by NYAWC services.

One-third of the women we serve report an increase in income by the time they exit our program.

[artswirls-mission]

81 CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR SPENT ON PROGRAM SERVICES

The New York Asian Women’s Center helps women and their children overcome domestic violence and other forms of abuse by empowering them to govern their own lives.  The Center provides a safe haven through multi-lingual support programs and shelter services.  In addition, the Center works to raise public awareness about violence against women, advocates for the rights of survivors, and acts as an agent of social change.

[artswirls-mission]

The New York Asian Women's Center (NYAWC) was founded in 1982 by an impassioned group of volunteers who answered the call to action of Asian immigrant women in domestic violence situations. What began as a community awareness project, soon grew to include a hotline -- one telephone and a single answering machine. Led by Founding Executive Director, Pat Eng, the hotline was run by volunteers out of a supporter's office, with the phone hidden in a file cabinet during off hours. As awareness spread throughout the community, hotline hours and language capabilities expanded. Join us in celebrating NYAWC's 32nd Birthday at our annual Gala Benefit Dinner in October!

Buy gala tickets from Yinan.

[artswirls-mission]

While we work to ensure that services are available for Asian immigrant survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, NYAWC provides services to all survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or citizenship status.

[artswirls-mission]

[artswirls-mission]

NYAWC's 2011-2012 Biennial Report