Personal stories of change – Every project result has a human story behind it
The United Against Domestic Violence – Creating Safer Futures project has supported women survivors of domestic violence and strengthened the capacities of shelter professionals across Serbia. While project indicators capture measurable results, they cannot fully reflect the courage, resilience and determination of the people behind them. The stories below show what meaningful support can achieve when it is combined with trust, knowledge and opportunity. From women who rebuilt their economic independence through vocational training and self-employment grants, to shelter professionals who found renewed motivation and peer support, these personal testimonies demonstrate the lasting impact of investing in people.
Their voices speak far beyond statistics. They tell stories of recovery, dignity, hope and new beginnings.
Testimonies of beneficiaries
This section presents the personal testimonies of direct beneficiaries of the project. Their words speak louder than any indicator or statistic — they reflect the true human impact of the support provided, and the courage, strength, and hope of women who, through this project, have begun to rebuild their lives.
Marina, mother of four — village near Pančevo
Beneficiary of a self-employment grant and Vocational Education and Training (VET)
“I was beaten down, and it was so very difficult — but I stood up, because you gave me a helping hand. It was your approach and your genuine will to help that showed me I am worth it, and that I can do this. This meant even more to me when I enrolled in the VET programme. I had three children at home, my oldest son was in the hospital, and I had animals to care for and sell so I could earn enough to feed my children. It was so hard. I would cry at night and whisper to myself: ‘You can do it, Marina. They believe in you — so it means you can do it. Just a few more tasks.’ I truly believed I could not learn bookkeeping — that I simply wasn’t smart enough. But task by task, with the wonderful lessons you provided, I learned. And now, with the machines you gave me, I can finally be a real entrepreneur — one who knows how to manage her finances and keep her own books. I just wanted to tell you how important this is to me. I felt like standing up and then jumping to the sky — because I felt supported. I owe it to you, and to myself, to succeed.”
Slađa, mother of two — Pančevo
Beneficiary of a self-employment grant; her son completed the Basic Financial Literacy Training
“Thank you for thinking of us — even when it seemed like I was already standing on my own two feet, the truth is, it was bare survival. My son completed the financial literacy training, and it meant so much to him as well. These are things we never had the chance to learn in a violent home. I already have my clients, but now — with the new chair, the mirror, and the equipment — I can finally offer them the service they truly deserve and attract new clients too. I can even charge a fair market price for my work. And I want to give back. I will help other women who leave violent homes — I will teach them, and I will cut their hair for free. That is how empowerment continues. You helped me — and I will help others.”
Daca (Danijela), mother of three — Pančevo
Beneficiary of a Vocational Education and Training (VET) and self-employment grant; now working together with Slađa in their joint hair salon
“The family I ran away from was very violent. My father lost his life, and my ex-husband is in prison. I was very lucky to find my current husband — he loves me, and he was deeply supportive throughout my hairdressing training. This had been my dream since I was a little girl, and today I finally hold the certificate and the knowledge in my own hands. I have started working with Slađa, and I am learning so much from her. We support each other every single day. My hope is that one day I will be able to join my husband in his salon and build a true family business together — he is a men’s hairdresser, and I will be the women’s hairdresser. Together, we can provide for our children and our family.”
The story of Daca and Slađa is particularly powerful. Both received self-employment grants and have since joined forces, creating a warm and professional hair salon in Pančevo. Slađa brought her existing practice; Daca brought her newly certified skills and unwavering determination. What began as two individual recovery journeys has evolved into a shared space of mutual support, sisterhood, and economic independence — a living example of how empowerment multiplies when women uplift one another.
Marina’s journey, meanwhile, stands as a testament to what becomes possible when belief is met with concrete support. From a mother in crisis — balancing children, hospital visits, farm work, and survival — she has emerged as a confident entrepreneur, equipped not only with machines, but with knowledge, dignity, and faith in herself.
Testimony from Shelter Staff — Following the Study Visits and group supervision sessions
The following testimony reflects the perspective of a long-standing shelter employee who participated in both the study visits and the group supervision sessions organized under this project. Her words illustrate the profound personal and professional impact of these activities — not only on her individual work, but on the cohesion, resilience, and motivation of the entire shelter team.
Jasna — Shelter Employee
Participant in the Study Visits (Slovenia and Serbia) and Group Supervision Sessions
“Group supervision was the first time ever that we, as employees of the shelter, had the chance to sit down together and truly talk. Never before had anyone asked us how we are — whether it is difficult for us — not even in moments of extreme emotional intensity with our beneficiaries, not even when there were injuries, and not even when there were deaths. We somehow carried it all on our own, trying to support our beneficiaries, while never feeling supported ourselves. ASB was the first organization to recognize this need — initially through a previous project, when the regional network of shelter employees was established, and now, through this project, by providing us with education and meaningful opportunities for growth. You took us on study visits to see how our colleagues in Slovenia successfully do this work, and we returned with new wings and renewed motivation. On the second study visit, we connected with colleagues from across Serbia and learned so much about conflict management and resolution. After decades of working in this field, I feel that I finally have the tools to do my work even better — and to help our beneficiaries even more. The group supervision sessions were the final touch — the cherry on the cake. We needed them so deeply: to bond as a team, to speak openly about truths that had been hidden for too long and were quietly damaging the dynamics within our group — all of it gently guided by the supervisor. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.“
Jasna’s words carry a weight that goes far beyond a single testimony. They speak to a long-overlooked reality: that those who care for victims of violence are themselves silent witnesses to trauma, often without any structured support of their own.
Through the combination of regional networking, study visits to Slovenia and within Serbia, and structured group supervision, this project has helped shelter employees move from a place of silent endurance to one of shared strength, professional growth, and emotional renewal. The bonds formed — both within individual teams and across the regional network — represent a sustainable foundation that will continue to support shelter workers, and through them, countless beneficiaries, long after the project’s conclusion.
This is, perhaps, one of the most quietly transformative outcomes of the entire project.
About the project
United Against Domestic Violence – Creating Safer Futures was implemented by Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB) with the support of Intesa Foundation.
The project combined economic empowerment for women survivors of domestic violence with capacity-building activities for shelter professionals. Through vocational education and training, financial literacy programmes, self-employment grants, study visits and professional supervision, the project helped beneficiaries strengthen their independence, develop new skills and build safer, more sustainable futures.
By supporting both survivors and the professionals who work with them, the project contributed to stronger support systems and long-term recovery for women affected by domestic violence.
