By Paula Lucas | Founder & Executive Director
Niva was having the time of her life on vacation with her friends in Costa Rica They were enjoying the last of their summer before college began again last month. Niva and her friends met an international group of students on an overnight hiking and camping trip. Niva was in her sleeping bag in the middle of the night when one of the male students entered her tent, held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her if she screamed. He sexually assaulted her. When he was done, he told her if she told anyone he would say she was the one that invited him to her tent. Niva felt ashamed and afraid. The next morning the male student acted like nothing had happened. He laughted and joked with all of her friends. Niva was relieved when they went back to their hotel room she was sharing with her friends. Her friends kept asking her what was wrong. She told them she had a headache.
Niva came back to the USA and tried to forget the sexual assault happened. She began having nightmares and was afraid to go anywhere by herself. She called our crisis line and spoke to one of our advocates in our SASHAA Program, Sexual Assault Support & Help For Americans Abroad.
We connected Niva with a counselor. She will need counseling for a long time. She told us she wants to become an advocate herself one day when she is done healing.
Thank you for supporting Americans who have been sexually assaulted abroad! The SASHAA Team!
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