In every stroke of her brush and every color she chooses, Yasha tells a story—one of pain, resilience, and hope.
At just six years old, Yasha’s world changed forever. Brought to Manila from their province by her mother, she found herself lost in a cycle of abandonment and abuse. Her mother, struggling with drug dependency and entangled with multiple partners, left Yasha in the care of strangers—households that turned into prisons where she was sold and sexually abused.
At an age where she should have been playing and learning, Yasha instead bore unimaginable pain. Unable to endure the horrors, she ran away, searching the streets for her mother. At nine years old in 2018, she was finally rescued by authorities and placed in a government shelter. But her journey didn’t end there. She was moved to a foster family, only to be betrayed once again by a foster father who inflicted the same wounds she was trying to heal.
It wasn’t until 2023 that Yasha found refuge at the Voice of the Free’s Center of Hope—a place that has become her sanctuary, where broken hearts are mended and dreams are reborn.
Today, Yasha is in Grade 7. She has rediscovered joy through dancing, singing, and painting—each expression a step forward in her healing journey. Inspired by the kindness and guidance of the psychologist who helps her at the center, Yasha now dreams of becoming a psychologist herself. She hopes to be a beacon of hope for other girls who, like her, have walked through the darkest of paths and are searching for light.
Her artwork, filled with bright hues and gentle strokes, reflects the heart of a young girl who has endured storms but refuses to be defined by them. Each piece is a celebration of survival, courage, and hope—a testament that beauty can bloom even in the harshest conditions.
This year, at the All Women’s Run Asia Year 3, Yasha’s art will be displayed and showcased—a powerful reminder that behind every brushstroke lies a story of strength and transformation.
Through Yasha, we are reminded that hope is not just a dream — it is alive, it is healing, and it can inspire countless others to rise.
