Rachel Chung
Rachel Chung was a victim of domestic violence. For 8 years, she suffered through psychological and physical trauma inflicted on her by her ex-husband but now, Rachel is a fighter, fighting to change social attitudes towards violence and help women overcome domestic abuse.
Q: How did you react when it first started?
A: I was very shocked. The first few times I actually tried to make excuses for him. I went into self-denial; I was thinking that this is not really who he is. He was just going through a bad period of time in his life. He’s lost his job and things are happening. I told myself, “Oh maybe he’s just feeling the stress of being a first-time father.” You know, keep trying to make excuses for him because that’s — I always thought that’s not who he is.
Q: When was it the time when you decided after your first child was born that you had to do something about it?
A: I think primarily it was also because she’s a girl. When I think about when my girl grows up, you know, is she going to go through that too? Is she going to look at me and go “Okay, Mom is like that and therefore I should be like that too?” And that is so repulsive to me and it’s so vile to me that at that very moment when I thought of it, it sort of like, was a wake up call? When I left, my kids were only 8 and 3. Subsequently in later years, I did broach the issue, and they wonder if they should feel angry with him. They wonder if it’s okay that they feel feelings of anger, hatred. All these underlying issues, we really talk about it openly.
Q: What is empowerment to you?
A: Empowerment to me is when I reclaim my power and as a woman and as a human being and sharing that power with other women. It also means self-empowerment — picking myself up during days when I’m very very down.
To watch Rachel’s full story:
Talk to Rachel here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelchung
Family Violence Helplines (Singapore):
Centre for Promoting Alternatives to Violence (PAVE) —
6555 0390
(Mon to Fri: 9am — 6pm, Wed: 9am — 9.30pm)
Address: Blk 211 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3 #01–1446 Singapore 560211
http://www.pave.org.sg/
Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) –
1800 774 5935
(Mon to Fri: 3pm — 9.30pm)
Address: Block 5 Dover Crescent #01–22 Singapore 130005
http://www.aware.org.sg/
TRANS SAFE Centre —
6449 9088
(Mon to Fri: 9am — 5pm)
Address: Blk 410 Bedok North Ave 2 #01–58 Singapore 460410
http://www.transfamilyservices.org.sg...
Care Corner Project StART —
1800 3535 800 (Mandarin)
Address: Blk 7A Commonwealth Ave #01–672 Singapore 141007
http://www.carecorner.org.sg/services...
ComCare Call — 1800 222 0000
SOS (24 hours daily) — 1800 221 4444
MSF Child Protection Service — 1800 777 0000
Tinkle Friend Helpline (for Child Abuse) — 1800 274 4788
Shelters (Singapore):
Star Shelter
http://www.scwo.org.sg/index.php/star...
SACS Family Care Centre
http://sacs.org.sg/
Good Shepherd Centre
http://www.marymountctr.org.sg/good_s...
Casa Raudha Women Home
http://www.casaraudha.org/
