The long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse are devastating and carry long-term psychological effects such as depression and self-neglect.

Victims of sexual violence have thus been encouraged to speak out and seek help before harming themselves.

Gobasen |Uiras, a 24-year-old sexual violence survivor, describes it as a "grooming phase." Gobasen first suffered molestation at the hands of her perpetrator, which led to rape when she was in Grade 4.

She wished she could one day wake up from the tormenting nightmare; worse yet, the abuser was someone she knew, and her world was shattered.

The young Gobasen had since lived a life coupled with fear, isolation, shame, blame, depression, and trauma—words one would not think of associating with her bubbly personality.

"It was a relative of a relative of mine, and I was actually afraid because they have a way of threatening you and saying that if you disclose this, I'm going to kill you, and sometimes the shame that comes with it makes you decide not to tell anyone. I'm a very extroverted person; since that had occurred, I was withdrawn, and it caused a lot of problems in my sexual relationships."

Gobasen finally decided to move to her mother's house, and this was the beginning of a difficult healing journey filled with denial and numbness.
 
Enough was enough, and in 2019, the brave and devoted Gobasen took control of her healing journey.

She came across Project Hope under the Dreams Programme, a US initiative that empowers young women and girls with social protection, safe spaces, education, and economic skills, as well as access to family planning and reproductive health services.

She became one of the Dreams Programme's ambassadors.

Today, although still overcoming some trauma, Gobasen confidently tells a different story and has started her own welfare organisation called One Chance, which deals with young women who have suffered sexual abuse, GBV, and other social issues.

This is done through playing soccer, creating a safe space she never had.

Gobasen has encouraged both young girls and boys to speak out before it's too late.

Gobasen is also currently pursuing her studies in occupational health and safety, among others.