Nayah, whose name has been changed, was 18 years old when she decided to ring the doorbell of a simple apartment in Bagnolet, Seine-Saint-Denis. She was in a training program at the local mission when they saw her arrive with bruises and a deformed face. They advised her to contact the women at LAO Pow’Her, as she had been a victim of family violence in the past and believed it was normal in relationships. The women at LAO helped her realize it was not her fault. Now 21 years old with a 9-month-old baby, Nayah considers the LAO staff as her new family. They helped her understand the violence from the father of her child and assisted her in applying for a maternal center to achieve independence, making the LAO a refuge for her.
Managed by the FIT une femme un toit association, LAO is a unique day center for women under 25 years old who are victims of gender-based and sexual violence. It is at risk of closing its doors in the coming months due to financial difficulties. A crowdfunding campaign on Jesoutienslelao.fr has been launched to raise awareness about these issues and help pay the staff, but it is struggling to reach its €55,000 goal. Since its establishment in 2019, LAO has supported 547 women, mostly victims of domestic violence. Many have experienced physical or psychological violence from a young age, forced marriage, or female genital mutilation. Amandine Maraval, the center’s director, highlights that 86% of these women have experienced multiple forms of violence, a group largely overlooked by mainstream services.
Women arrive at LAO with a baby in their arms or hastily packed suitcases, often without resources. The center ensures they are accommodated as quickly as possible. What sets LAO apart is the ongoing support it provides victims for up to two to three years after their initial contact. This support helps them recognize the violence they have experienced, rebuild their lives, and avoid repeating the same patterns. To achieve this, LAO relies on a team of nine people, including three educators, a psychologist, a lawyer, and a family and marriage counselor. This comprehensive support requires a budget of approximately €720,000 according to the director, in order to function sustainably and produce the necessary statistics for further development.
Many women who seek help at LAO have never accessed mainstream services and are often the first victims but the last ones to ask for assistance. The center’s staff work to break this cycle by providing a safe space for victims to heal and learn how to identify and address the violence they have experienced. The holistic approach at LAO aims to empower women and prevent them from perpetuating the same harmful behaviors in the future. Despite the challenges they face in funding, LAO remains committed to supporting these vulnerable women and providing a lifeline for those in need of help and understanding.
