A Durban rape survivor is shaping up to compete in a body-building competition to give hope to others who have endured similar violence.
Nazreen Ally, 36, has taken it on herself to compete in a body-building competition, the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness will host in March next year.
This being her first bodybuilding competition she has pledged to compete to give hope and strength to women who have been the victims of rape.
Ally, who began training a few weeks ago, is offering her time to assist victims of abuse, not just during
the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children.
“I believe, as a survivor, that every victim once had hopes, dreams and goals they wanted to achieve. Those dreams will always be there. But they need to know and to be shown that they have the power to break the shackles imposed by what happened to them,” Ally said.
At the age of 13, Ally, excelled in school sports, had a passion for body-building and was a 100-metre sprinter who came close to achieving her Natal colours but found her world disintegrating around her when she was raped at gunpoint.
“I am now picking up my goals… I have overcome my pain and hurt. I claimed back what I thought I was stripped of. Today I am proud and strong. It took me years of recovery to stand strong and grounded. I have my dignity, my femininity, my inner strength, my zest for life to achieve all my goals,”Ally said.
She said her rapist, a policeman, was dangerous and so she could not continue with the criminal case.
At 21, she married and gave birth to her daughter. The rapist continued to threaten her with death if the case continued.
Ally founded Haven of Hope rape crisis centre in Hibberdene in 2008, where she fled to after the death threats.
“I gave motivational talks in schools in the rural areas. This helped me build my character and assisted in the healing process. A Hibberdene doctor, Kobus Schutte, worked closely with me with regards to psychological services to victims.”
After a few years she returned to Durban where she assisted NGOs with fund-raisers.
Ally has gone on to achieve her qualification as a sports coach and personal trainer.
“My passion still brings me back to women who have been through the same traumatic ordeal that I have survived.
“I am helping women step out, motivate themselves and help them discover their true strengths within. I have decided to incorporate fitness and emotional motivation to help victims,” she said.
“Every bicep curl or weight that I lift in the gym is for abused women out there. It is not about muscles.
“When I go on to the stage I will show off my confidence, self-esteem, mental strength, discipline and perseverance.”
Ally trains six days a week and follows a strict diet.
During her leisure time she looks after her daughter, cooks, cleans and watches TV.
Courtesy of: IOL News