By Paula Lucas | Founder & Executive Director
Dallas went on a volunteer program to Costa Rica in July. She was having the best time of her life. The last night of the program one of the other volunteers snuck into her room in the middle of the night and sexually assaulted her.
Dallas' first instinct was to fight, but he was much bigger and stronger than she was. He held a knife against her throat and told her if she moved he would kill her. She was paralized with fear. After, he told her that no one would believe it wasn't consensual. He left after insulting her and telling her that if he heard her scream he would come back and do it again. She was terrified. She took a shower and cried herself to sleep.
Dallas called us the day after the attack. She didn't want anyone to know, especially her parents and the volunteer program. We discussed medical and law enforcement options with Dallas. Her assailant had already left Costa Rica and her parents were flying in that day to spend a week before they went back home.
She is back in the USA now and connected to free counseling. Dallas wants to volunteer with us to help prevent this happening to other Americans traveling overseas.
Dallas is thankful for the counseling we were able to provide because of donations like yours. Thank you from the SASHAA Team!
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