Wipa’s Road to Healing
Written by Lay Phoprasobchok
with Robin Hogan
June 2024
GCA Thailand met Wipa after she and her young child, Kla, had fled domestic violence in Myanmar. For years, Wipa had endured mistreatment and abuse at the hands of her husband and his family members. With Kla depending on her, Wipa knew that she needed to escape. It’s likely that if faced with a similar situation, you or I would turn to our own parents or family members for help; but unfortunately, Wipa had grown up in a broken home and didn’t have that network of support. So, she made plans to stay with an acquaintance in Mae Sot, Thailand and courageously set off across the border with Kla to what she hoped would be a safer environment.
And for a while, it was. But as more and more time passed, Wipa was not able to find employment in Thailand that would support herself and Kla. Her acquaintance in Mae Sot could no longer provide tangible help, and consequently, she began accumulating debts for the basic needs of her small family. Being in debt and having no way out led to Wipa feeling lost, distressed, and even considering returning to her abusive husband and his family in Myanmar.
Wipa found herself at a crossroads.
Fortunately, GCA was able to intervene in this moment for Wipa. The Thailand team assisted her in finding housing and providing food assistance for mother and child as well as counseling for Wipa so that she could begin to healthily process all she has been through. Wipa also attended training sessions offered by GCA on parenting and child development.
The slow, yet crucial process of healing for Wipa and Kla has begun, and GCA will be there for this family as they continue to gain agency over their new lives away from violence. We celebrate with Wipa that she currently has a part-time job and has paid back all of her debts. Now, all income she earns will be used to support herself and Kla. This is precisely the kind of empowerment that GCA seeks to facilitate in all of our cases.
We are so happy for Wipa and Kla!