Our clients have typically either been put into care from an early age, run away from abusive homes, or live in extreme poverty. They often suffer from severe mental health and emotional difficulties, stemming from their experiences of neglect, physical and sexual abuse and exposure to drugs and violence.

The mission of Omid-e-Mehr is to value and nurture the voices, hearts, & minds of these underprivileged and vulnerable young women and to help them transform their lives. We believe that through love and care in the context of sustained relationships where practical and emotional needs are addressed, our young clients will be able to overcome the traumas of the past and will eventually be able to take responsibility for their emotions and behaviour

Nasrin, Mehri, Laleh and Monir are typical of the women we help

Nasrin is 20 She does not remember her father, a heroin addict and drug dealer who abandoned her and her mother when she was three. The step-father who replaced him abused her. Nasrin left home at 14 and was moved from one Behzisti (local authority) home to another before coming to Omid. She was extremely angry and destructive when she first came to Omid but has now changed dramatically. She has finished high school, is attending university preparatory classes, and is determined to make a career for herself as a lawyer. Nasrin has been reunited with her brother and grandmother, and is now also a regular visitor at her mother’s house.

Mehri is 17 She has never known her parents and has been in Behzisti (local authority) care since infancy. Mehri was an extremely fragile young woman when she arrived at Omid in 2004. She was depressed, shy, introverted and taking drugs. For a long time she attended lessons only irregularly, and spent much of her time sleeping. She felt worthless, as if she meant nothing to anyone. Today, Mehri has stopped taking drugs and is rapidly turning into a self-confident and vibrant young woman. She has now completed her training and is embarking upon a career as a beautician. She retains the passion for photography and painting that she developed at Omid.

Laleh is 22 Her father is a drug addict and her mother a sex worker. Laleh was born in prison while her mother was serving a sentence for prostitution. From the age of 9, Laleh was sold to various men for sex by her mother. She has given birth to two children who are now in Behzisti (local authority) care. When she was 15, Laleh was imprisoned and sentenced to death for having had incestuous sexual relationships (zenayeh mahram) with two of her brothers. Only after several years in prison, and thanks to the perseverance of her lawyer, was the penalty reduced to 200 lashes. With the help of Omid, Laleh has now left Behzisti accommodation to live with a carer in a flat in Tehran, is learning to read and write, and is training as a seamstress.

Monir is 17 She has two brothers, one older, one younger. Monir’s mother is a drug addict. When her parents divorced, Monir was kicked out of the parental home. She then lived in Behzisti (local authority) accommodation until she was 16, when she was forced to leave because of her age. Monir had no means of supporting herself or renting a room, so ended up staying with her father and her brothers, who were themselves homeless. They all slept in the shop where her father works, her father being too poor to give any help to his daughter or to rent somewhere for his family. With Omid’s help, the family has now found an affordable flat. Monir is continuing her training at Omid and, at the same time, mentoring young children in creative writing in downtown Tehran.