Bianca’s Story
Bianca* and her three young children fled their home in West Africa when her husband’s family was preparing to perform the ritual known as female genital mutilation on her two-year-old daughter as a “cure” for her recently diagnosed dwarfism (considered a curse by local customs). But the challenges Bianca faced in leaving her country did not prepare her for the hardship to come once she arrived in the United States. She and her children arrived in the winter with nowhere to stay––they did not even have winter coats. The day Bianca first came to our offices, she and her children had walked for hours, sometimes along a highway, to get to us. She carried her suitcase with her only belongings over her head.
Tahirih filed an asylum case on Bianca’s behalf based on the threat her daughter faced if they returned home. But that was just the first step; Bianca had to find a way to survive in the meantime. For over a month, she and her children lived in an abandoned building. They had no furniture, beds or heat. Because of her immigration status, she did not qualify for a homeless shelter. And because she wasn’t herself a victim, she did not qualify for a domestic violence shelter either. At the time, Tahirih did not have a social worker on staff and our legal staff spent a tremendous amount of time advocating on her behalf. After many desperate pleas by Tahirih attorneys, Bianca and her children were finally accepted in a local shelter.
Her struggles did not end there, however. The shelter required all residents to vacate the facilities during the day. In the winter, Bianca and her children would often ride on the Metro all day to protect themselves from the cold. During warmer months, they would go to nearby parks and wait until it was time to return to the shelter. Although Bianca had a successful career as a businesswoman in Africa, until her case was resolved, she could not work in the United States. Although she is now in a much better state, memories of the days when she was unable to independently care for herself and her children continue to haunt Bianca.
Make Another Victory Possible
Our work helping courageous women and girls is only possible with support from individuals like you.
Donate now to ensure that Tahirih can respond to urgent pleas for assistance. With Tahirih’s unique model of leveraging pro bono legal services from outside professionals, we are able to magnify the power of your gift. In 2007 alone, we received $4.8 million worth of donated services, turning every $1 you donated into $5. Your donation has a truly life-changing impact.
*Names have been changed to protect privacy. The photograph included here is not of Bianca and was generously provided by Sergio Pessolano.
