A 24-year-old single mother of Suva is forg­ing ahead to have a successful life to pro­vide a brighter future for her two daugh­ters.

Anisha Afreen Banu, originally of Seaqaqa in Macuata, shared her story during the gradua­tion ceremony at the Makoi Women’s Vocational Training Centre in Nasinu on Thursday.

Ms Banu claimed she was left helpless when she was fighting for her life at the Labasa Hospital. From there, after recovering, she returned to her parent’s home in Suva because she could not face any more abuse.

“I got married into a family who always abused me for three years,” Ms Banu claimed.

“I have two daughters, the eldest is two years and eight months and youngest is one year and eight months old.

“My eldest daughter lives with me while my younger daughter lives with my husband.

“When I last met my daughter in the family court last month, she did not want to go back with my husband. I had noticed that she had lost a lot of weight.

“One of my relatives also told me that my daughter always cried and asked for me. I miss her a lot and wish she was here with me.

“At the moment, I am in a court battle to get custody of my youngest daughter,” she said.

“I know I have been a burden on my family, so I decided to join the Makoi Women’s Vocational Training Centre.

“I came to know about the centre through friends and social media. Joining the centre with all my burdens, I have realised that I am not alone in this fight.

“I’ve found life-long skills to overcome my bur­dens. This has motivated me to be strong and in­dependent in life.

“After graduation, I will find a job or start a small business of my own.

“I will work hard to make progress to be able to provide a brighter future for my daughters and have a successful life so they do not go through the hard times that I have faced,” Ms Banu said.

She encouraged other mothers in a similar situ­ation like hers to join the centre and learn a skill to change their lives.

Edited by Percy Kean

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