Breaking the Silence: Journeys to Recovery

Including poems, short stories, and personal essays, this collection—culled from a successful contest now in its fourth year—honors the perspective of South African girls and women who have been the victims of abuse. Based on the idea that creative writing aids the healing process, these selections describe the struggle to survive, the difficulty of reconciling past and present lives, and the enduring nature of the human spirit. Told from a survivor's perspective, the tales paint a textured emotional picture of the highs and lows as victims struggle to put themselves together again, battle to find their center, and reclaim their place in the world.