When I sit down to reflect on the struggle and major brainstorming my collegues and I went through as we tried to find a safe shelter for one of the girls we work with it was amazing. We knocked heads together thinking of the possibilites and still we were not able to come up with concrete solutions to ensure that she finds a safe place that she can call home and that she can continue to get adequate support in order to ensure she remains independent and still have the ability to make choices in regards to her life.

My question is where do we take these destitute girls who understand the risks that they are faced with, have come for assistance and understand that they play a major role in the choices that they make in their lives? My experience has shown that these girls often have no where to turn to and have often resorted to returning to abusive situations despite them understanding their rights as girls and young women. Is it safe to say that there are not enough spaces that take in adolescent girls? I recognize that there are organizations that are overwhelmed with and are doing great work to empower the girls in their programs and give them shelter but thats just it...There are many girls who resort to going back to abuse because there is not enough space for them in the exsisting shelters.

As a social worker I find myself torn in between letting her go and finding a solution that wll not only assure her safety but will also allow her to grow in various aspects of her life.  I meet with girls and young women in many desperate situations and it breaks my heart not to be able to assist them in terms of refuge.

Where will they go?

Where will they find their safe home?

Who will be their refuge?

Best

Nicole