Hidaya was living in an abusive situation in Kuala Terengganu. After police intervention, family members began threatening her and her children. Out of fear, she followed a friend to Ampang by bus and stayed with her for a week.
A few days after arriving in Ampang, Hidaya realised that all her money was missing from her bag. At that same time, her friend chased her out because she could not pay the room rent.
Someone from the community has provided Hidaya with three contact numbers for help, including ours. When she called, none of the numbers, including ours, were able to respond. She continued calling us many times, but because she was far away from our office at that time, the only thing we could do was pray for her and her children’s safety.
In February 2024, a miracle happened. One of our former students, Faridah, and her mothers was driving her Grab car in Ampang when she spotted a Rohingya woman with three children sitting helplessly at a bus stop. She and her mother stopped to check on them. As they listened, they realised the children were sick, dirty, and unwell, and Hidaya, in tears, begged for help.
They asked if she wanted to follow them back to Klang. Desperately needing shelter, Hidaya immediately agreed and went with them to their home. Faridah’s family gave them food, clothes, and a temporary room. Hidaya and her children slept soundly until the next afternoon, their first proper sleep under a roof after nearly one and a half months on the streets in Ampang.
During that time, Hidaya and her children had been completely homeless, surviving without proper food or shelter and often resorting to begging in front of mosques.
Hidaya’s youngest daughter was born with cognitive disabilities, likely due to Hidaya’s diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy, as well as the severe abuse she endured from her husband.
Our social workers managed to reconnect with the family and visited them. During our visit with a doctor on our team, Faridah’s mother mentioned that if Hidaya wished to continue staying there, she would need to contribute RM350 towards the rent (as the total house rental was RM1300).
Our Social Work Team developed a comprehensive support plan for the family:
- Monetary aid as community placement support for three months (covering rent and food).
- Introduce her child to our therapist for play therapy
- Work with the host family to help in finding a job opportunity after the three-month period
As a result of play therapy sessions, Hidaya’s child slowly began to improve, gaining a better understanding and behaving more like a typical child, although challenges with hearing and speech persisted.
Towards the end of the three months, we moved Hidaya and her family into one of our shelter homes, where they continue to receive care and support. We have since been able to help the mother access proper medical treatment for her health issues.
Hidaya’s story continually reminds us that “God can” and “He is able.”
Trauma Care
