Burgertown Saves The World: Cambodia
Donation protected
(Trigger Warning: Sexual Abuse.)
On the 11th of April, 2003 at age 18 I survived a horrific crime whilst travelling overseas. It was my first day on the job learning how to be a journalist for a well known Newspaper in London.
Or so I thought.
I was told we would be working undercover to stop children being sexually abused by a prominent MP.
Instead, I was drugged, sexually abused, my body was sold and I was raped.
Unable to cope with my trauma and chronic PTSD, I began self harming and entertaining suicide. My abuser stalked and threatened what else would happen to me if I told anyone, for two months. I figured if he did end up killing me, at least I wouldn’t have to deal with this pain and torment anymore.
Luckily, I had a lightbulb moment when I realised I was not the only human he was abusing and decided I wasn’t going to let him win at destroying and controlling my life or anyone else’s.
He’d messed with the wrong girl, fam!
With the support of friends, family & the police, I took him to court. And, always the avid journalist, I begged my father to buy me a video camera back in 2004 to film my journey to help other survivors as I endured the storm of the court case and media frenzy.
I WON the historic month long trial - and he was sentenced to LIFE imprisonment. (This is the equivalent of winning the Lotto. Big time.)
Due to (stupid) laws to protect him, I was not allowed to speak publicly or share my footage about my abuse to help other survivors of rape, sexual assault or human trafficking. So I did it on the down low, helping people in support groups or by word of mouth. I found out most survivors of sexual abuse endured theirs as children. My fire was fuelled even further as I imagined how difficult it would be to recover from that knowing how hard it was to recover as an adult. And how tragic this was knowing I’d been raped whilst trying to stop child sexual abuse! What a mess. Where was the karma?
My attacker died 4 years ago in his lonely cell, which triggered BEASTMODE healing within me... and now he’s 6 feet under so... I’m on top of the world and nobody can stop me now! I’m on a mission to help others recover from horrific trauma and not only survive but THRIVE in a life no longer defined but what has happened to us.
Over the past 4 years I began further journalistic investigation on recovery. I wanted to know how other cultures were coping with trauma and their mental health. Were they just taking antidepressants, drinking their problems away and sitting on a couch talking about sad things with their therapist and wondering why things aren’t getting better like us in the West? Other than ‘go see a psychologist’ there isn’t much practical support when it comes to recovering from trauma, and these days you are hard pressed to find someone who isn’t experiencing anxiety, depression or recovering from traumatic events in their life that lead to feeling hopeless and at worst, suicidal. I began seeking alternative therapies in conjunction with my psychologist to change thought patterns, learn to truly love myself and forgive.
In 2016 for my humanities degree through Griffith University I travelled to South America, a place I had avoided going to when I was travelling at 18 (because it was the rape capital of the world at the time). I investigated child trafficking and interviewed people all over Peru on what is happening and how they deal with trauma. What resulted was the most incredible chapter in my healing journey in the Amazon Jungle.
‘Swings & Roundabouts’ is my documentary I have been creating for 14.5 years in order to help inspire other people to make the most of their time here on the planet despite the swings and roundabouts they will endure. Life is not what happened to us, it’s what we build from the rubble after our kingdoms collapse.
On the 11th of April, 2018, on the 15 year anniversary of my trauma - I’m heading to Phenom Penh to learn how survivors of human trafficking and abuse are rebuilding their lives amongst an already traumatised nation of Cambodia.
These funds I am raising will cover my flights, accomodation and time working with the Charity who are letting me film my experience to help other survivors.
(If I can raise more than this, I’d love to buy a proper video camera for better quality filming than my phone. Because I’m working on a mini series after this. And pay someone to build a website for me to better support survivors recovering from all of the things life throws at them)
I believe this film and the work I am doing will help thousands of people learn alternative ways to heal and learn to love themselves.
Thank you from the bottom of my tenacious, inspired, healed and loving heart - Karleigh x
(Check out my little trailer for my film
https://youtu.be/vTYfajiJa-o )
P.S you can follow my journey from now on over at ‘Swings & Roundabouts’ on Facebook
On the 11th of April, 2003 at age 18 I survived a horrific crime whilst travelling overseas. It was my first day on the job learning how to be a journalist for a well known Newspaper in London.
Or so I thought.
I was told we would be working undercover to stop children being sexually abused by a prominent MP.
Instead, I was drugged, sexually abused, my body was sold and I was raped.
Unable to cope with my trauma and chronic PTSD, I began self harming and entertaining suicide. My abuser stalked and threatened what else would happen to me if I told anyone, for two months. I figured if he did end up killing me, at least I wouldn’t have to deal with this pain and torment anymore.
Luckily, I had a lightbulb moment when I realised I was not the only human he was abusing and decided I wasn’t going to let him win at destroying and controlling my life or anyone else’s.
He’d messed with the wrong girl, fam!
With the support of friends, family & the police, I took him to court. And, always the avid journalist, I begged my father to buy me a video camera back in 2004 to film my journey to help other survivors as I endured the storm of the court case and media frenzy.
I WON the historic month long trial - and he was sentenced to LIFE imprisonment. (This is the equivalent of winning the Lotto. Big time.)
Due to (stupid) laws to protect him, I was not allowed to speak publicly or share my footage about my abuse to help other survivors of rape, sexual assault or human trafficking. So I did it on the down low, helping people in support groups or by word of mouth. I found out most survivors of sexual abuse endured theirs as children. My fire was fuelled even further as I imagined how difficult it would be to recover from that knowing how hard it was to recover as an adult. And how tragic this was knowing I’d been raped whilst trying to stop child sexual abuse! What a mess. Where was the karma?
My attacker died 4 years ago in his lonely cell, which triggered BEASTMODE healing within me... and now he’s 6 feet under so... I’m on top of the world and nobody can stop me now! I’m on a mission to help others recover from horrific trauma and not only survive but THRIVE in a life no longer defined but what has happened to us.
Over the past 4 years I began further journalistic investigation on recovery. I wanted to know how other cultures were coping with trauma and their mental health. Were they just taking antidepressants, drinking their problems away and sitting on a couch talking about sad things with their therapist and wondering why things aren’t getting better like us in the West? Other than ‘go see a psychologist’ there isn’t much practical support when it comes to recovering from trauma, and these days you are hard pressed to find someone who isn’t experiencing anxiety, depression or recovering from traumatic events in their life that lead to feeling hopeless and at worst, suicidal. I began seeking alternative therapies in conjunction with my psychologist to change thought patterns, learn to truly love myself and forgive.
In 2016 for my humanities degree through Griffith University I travelled to South America, a place I had avoided going to when I was travelling at 18 (because it was the rape capital of the world at the time). I investigated child trafficking and interviewed people all over Peru on what is happening and how they deal with trauma. What resulted was the most incredible chapter in my healing journey in the Amazon Jungle.
‘Swings & Roundabouts’ is my documentary I have been creating for 14.5 years in order to help inspire other people to make the most of their time here on the planet despite the swings and roundabouts they will endure. Life is not what happened to us, it’s what we build from the rubble after our kingdoms collapse.
On the 11th of April, 2018, on the 15 year anniversary of my trauma - I’m heading to Phenom Penh to learn how survivors of human trafficking and abuse are rebuilding their lives amongst an already traumatised nation of Cambodia.
These funds I am raising will cover my flights, accomodation and time working with the Charity who are letting me film my experience to help other survivors.
(If I can raise more than this, I’d love to buy a proper video camera for better quality filming than my phone. Because I’m working on a mini series after this. And pay someone to build a website for me to better support survivors recovering from all of the things life throws at them)
I believe this film and the work I am doing will help thousands of people learn alternative ways to heal and learn to love themselves.
Thank you from the bottom of my tenacious, inspired, healed and loving heart - Karleigh x
(Check out my little trailer for my film
https://youtu.be/vTYfajiJa-o )
P.S you can follow my journey from now on over at ‘Swings & Roundabouts’ on Facebook
Organizer
Karleigh Fox
Organizer
South Stradbroke QLD
