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“When my friends first advised me to join the Intisar Foundation drama therapy programme, they knew I had reached a state of helplessness. I was so exhausted mentally and emotionally that I couldn’t make my own decisions. I used to spend most of my time crying about everything I was going through.”
“I started from a state of hopelessness and finished the programme with a new mindset and a positive outlook on life.”
My name is Rajaa. I am a 50-year-old Lebanese woman living near the Shatila Refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon. I completed primary school. I am a mother of two, and I now live with my parents.
I have experienced so many traumatic events in my life. My son passed away ten years ago, and I have been caring for my other son who has schizophrenia.
When I started experiencing this trauma, I was living at my husband’s house. It started getting worse after my son’s diagnosis and my husband was not supportive during this tough time, so I took the decision to leave and seek stability at my parents’ house. I made sure that I prioritised my son’s health and wellbeing first. Before leaving my husband, I admitted my son into the hospital to seek proper treatment. Only after I ensured that he was stable did I come with him to my parents’ house.
I found out about the Intisar Foundation from friends who I used to meet near Beit Atfal Al Somod. When my friends first advised me to join the Intisar Foundation drama therapy programme, they knew I had reached a state of helplessness. I was so exhausted mentally and emotionally that I couldn’t make my own decisions. I used to spend most of my time crying about everything I was going through.
After I joined the programme offered by the Intisar Foundation, I still felt helpless but I immediately felt welcomed and very comfortable during the sessions.
After attending half of the program, I started to see improvement in my mental health and changes in my behaviour. Throughout the program, I was receiving constant support from the team and everyone around me to push through the difficult situations. It gave me a sense of belonging and I started to feel happy.
At the end of the program, I became mentally stronger. I started making my own choices and taking my own decisions. Without the program by Intisar Foundation and without the constant support of the team, I wouldn’t have been able to face my husband and leave him to find stability elsewhere.
My advice to every woman is to join the programmes done by Intisar Foundation. I started from a state of hopelessness and finished the programme with a new mindset and a positive outlook on life.
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