Women in Perm Share Abuse Stories in Charity Appeal

The Perm charitable organization «Territory of Family» has launched the «Not Children»s Letters« campaign to help its beneficiaries. Mothers in difficult life situations have shared their stories: some need psychological help, others need money. We tell what happened to the Perm women and how to help them.

«Territory of Family» is a regional public organization that helps women who have found themselves in difficult life situations and have survived domestic violence.

«Territory of Family» invites people to read the women«s stories in order to help the one whose story resonates with you.

«I Wasn»t Sure I Would Live to See the End of the Year«

One of the stories was written by Maria. She is 37 years old and has three children. For 16 years, the woman endured physical and emotional violence from her husband. They divorced in 2024, but continued to live together due to an apartment bought with a mortgage.

Maria«s ex-husband drank, and during this time he forced her to sit next to him and listen as he insulted her, her parents, and her children. The man threatened to disgrace Maria»s family, beat her, raped her, and did not respond to the children«s pleas to stop. When the eldest daughter tried to protect her mother, the man hit her on the head and stomach. Over time, the girl withdrew and began to stutter.

«The passing year has been very difficult for me. I wasn»t sure if I would live to see its end,« writes the mother of many children. »My ex-husband could shout at the children, drive them out of the children«s room, and rape me right there. Once he punched me in the face on the street when I was holding my infant daughter in my arms. Fearing for the baby»s life and my own, I ran home with the children and locked the door from inside, after which I called the police. My husband started breaking down the door, trying to get in. The police arrived at the scene and restrained him so that we could get out and leave.«

Reports to the police did not help, and Maria had to go to her parents. But even there the man found her: he would break down the balcony door or climb through the window to take the family home.

«My main wish for 2025 is for all this to end,» writes Maria.

Currently, a psychologist and a social worker are working with the mother of many children. She needs their help for at least a year. Paying for the two specialists requires about 50,000 rubles (approximately $500 at current rates).

«I Help Other Families in Difficult Financial Situations»

Yulia is a mother of three daughters; she has a full family. The four of them help in the organization«s sewing coworking space. This is a creative space designed to minimize expenses for families in difficult situations. There, mothers sew clothes for those in need. Yulia has been involved in this for several years, and it has become an outlet for her.

«I help other families in difficult financial situations with clothing,» the mother of many children said about herself. «Women can come and rent New Year»s costumes that I make for preschoolers, or simply borrow some things for a while. I want to continue creating and helping other mothers in the new year.«

At «Territory of Family,» they explain that Yulia does not take fabric from the social warehouse; she repurposes ready-made items. Money is needed to pay for the coworking space«s work, so the organization asks to donate 1,000 rubles (about $10) or any feasible amount for the specialist»s work and the purchase of supplies.

«Despite Everything, I Want to Be the Best Mother for Her»

The beneficiary Alena is 33 years old; she has a minor daughter, and «Territory of Family» has been helping them for a year already. Currently, they live in a dormitory room, and the state allocates money to them. It is not enough to independently pay for apartment rent, and little is left for food and clothing.

«There have been many difficulties in my life: I have been in places of deprivation of liberty, wandered around rented apartments with my little daughter in my arms, receiving no support from the child»s father,« writes Alena. »But, despite everything, I want to be the best mother for my daughter. Therefore, in the new year, I would like to be able to independently buy groceries for our small family.«

The organization specifies that one grocery set for a family costs 700 rubles (about $7), and asks to donate any amount. This way, at the «Territory of Family» warehouse, there will always be a stock of groceries for all beneficiaries.

At the end of 2024, other beneficiaries of «Territory of Family» told their stories. We published their letters in a separate news item.