Beyond providing safe accommodation for women and children who are survivors of domestic violence, Star Shelter is also a place where stories are shared and friendships are forged. In the shelter, one finds herself no longer alone, but journeying arm-in-arm with many other women. How evident was all this during the Star Shelter Hari Raya celebration in July this year. Alongside many other festivities throughout the year, this joyous occasion is celebrated yearly by the shelter – and brings together residents, both past and present for an evening of celebration, fellowship and food. The celebration started off with a bang, residents and ex-residents were treated to a delectable Hari Raya…

When SCWO and Star Shelter received an invitation from the Garden of Hope Foundation, to participate in the Asian Network of Women Shelters (ANWS) Workshop and Study Visit in Nepal, 5-6 May, my initial thoughts went back to the devastating earthquake that happened a year ago in April 2015...