What is WCC?

For more than 30 years, Women Centre’s for Change (WCC) in Penang, Malaysia has been fighting for the rights of women and children and a society free from gender violence and discrimination by providing comprehensive support for victims of domestic and sexual violence.

Since 1985, WCC has been the only organisation in the Northern Region providing free support for abused women and children such as counselling, temporary shelter and legal advice. In line with organisation’s goal to end violence against women and children, WCC also provides training for medical personnel, works closely with government agencies and key stakeholders to promote a gender sensitive approach to supporting victims of violence and actively lobbies for better enforcement of domestic violence and sexual crimes laws.

For more info, visit:

wccpenang.org 

Survivor stories:

Story 1:

Devi (not her real name), a kindergarten teacher and a mother of three, suffered physical, emotional and sexual abuse from her partner Sanjeet (not his real name) almost daily for 18 years. In early 2015, Sanjeet chased Devi out of the house. She was forced to leave her children with him while she stayed with a friend. Devi approached WCC for help soon after. The WCC social worker was able to help Devi get her children back but Sanjeet continually harassed the family. In 2016, Devi lodged a police report after Sanjeet broke the window of the family’s rented flat and threatened to burn her alive. Sanjeet was charged under the Penal Code for criminal intimidation. With the help of WCC, Devi endured the stressful court trial process, found a new job and through WCC’s Client Emergency Fund helped her set up her new home. Today, Devi and her children are living a happy and wonderful life.

 Story 2:

Puan Aina (not her real name) a single mother with three children live with their paternal uncle in a northern state. Just two months into living with their paternal uncle, he molested Puan Aina’s son and daughter. Puan Aina and her children escaped from the uncle’s house and she lodged a police report. She received backlash from his relatives. Puan Aina and her children were referred to WCC by an ex-client. The family stayed in the temporary shelter for a month.  Through the Client Emergency Fund, WCC was able to help Puan Aina and her children rebuild their lives by making many calls and visit to find accommodation for them, and help the children with school transfer and even subsidized their living expenses for six months. The family is now settled in Penang. Puan Aina started a new job and the children are attending school.

How does your donation help?

We are fundraising for WCC’s Client Emergency Fund, which is a fund that offers temporary financial assistance to survivors of sexual and domestic violence so that they can access the support and resources needed to rebuild their lives.

The Fund is used to help survivors in need with transport costs, for example to the Welfare Departments or to court trials, which can sometimes be in a different state; also with the deposit for flat rentals, rental payments and living expenses for the initial period, while WCC social workers support survivors of violence in starting a new life.

Survivors of violence often have children, nowhere to go and no financial resources. So, this Fund is crucial in giving them both the hope and the resources to rise up from violence and stand on their own.

Join us and help change lives!

Who we are? And how we are helping?

We are a group of Psychology students from DISTED College, Penang.

We are organising a hiking challenge on 12th March 2017, where participants will have to hike from bottom to the top of Bukit Jambul Hill. To join the challenge, participants need to contribute RM5. All proceeds will go towards WCC’s Client Emergency Fund.

Our theme for the hike will be “Blurring Gender Line”, therefore, we will dress up in opposite gender’s attire to support the theme. Participants are not required to do so, but we do encourage you to have fun with us! We will be posting up photos of our hike, so please stay tuned for exciting and interesting photos (P/S: guys will be wearing dresses!!!).

Those of you who are up for the challenge, do sign up to join us. Register with us by calling 016-797 6136 (Lee Ze Yee) or send an e-mail to [email protected] attaching your: name and phone number.

As for all of you wonderful people out there who wish to make the world a better place, but are unable to participate or just can’t stomach the idea of so much exercise, you can still do your little bit, by donating to us in support. All you have to do is scroll down and click donate. Funds will go directly to WCC. Any amount of donation will be accepted!

Your donation makes a big difference to WCC’s efforts to support abused women and children and end gender based violence.