"I don't allow it to happen again"

I met Daniela at the U.S. Vets center at Long Beach, where she took part in a 12-week women’s advance program to help female veterans. U.S. Vets is a non-profit organization that helps veterans. The women hear each other’s stories about post-traumatic stress disorder, sexual abuse and other issues. And they help each others to heal. Participants get involved in voluntary work around the center to help restructure their life. They also get training in issues like self-esteem and boundaries.

Daniela regards the program as valuable, but believes there should be more staff to help the many veterans facing challenges after years of service. 

Daniela does not yet dare to think how far she has advanced on her road to recovery. Neither does she know if she can ever forgive the rapist. But she wants to liberate herself from the pain.  “I know I won’t allow it to happen to me again. I don’t want to be embarrassed anymore. I joined the military to help my family and not to feel like nothing. If things were different, I would have stayed in. I liked the regulations. I didn’t like the rank structure. I could feel proud of myself with my work, because I wasn’t just doing it for myself,” she says.

Daniela says she wanted to talk to me in order to send a message to other women. She believes there are many who share her past. “I keep telling myself I didn’t ask for it and I should not be scared of being around so many men. So many women go through this and don’t tell anyone, because they feel embarrassed. But there is help out there.” 

In the next few years, she hopes to finish her bachelor’s degree and be able to help other veterans, like so many other veterans that fought to find their feet again. “You have to fight for your happiness,” she trusts.