"Your Wonder Woman from the Ocean"
I am a strong mother of two children who once found myself trapped in an abusive marriage with an alcoholic ex husband.
After years of physical, financial, and emotional abuse from my alcoholic ex husband, I lost my sense of direction. Every day, I was just holding back my pain and tears. I was too ashamed to speak to others, afraid of their judgment, and often felt stupid, confused, and insecure. The pressure made me feel trapped in my life with no way out. My deep shame and helplessness kept me from asking for help.
But there was one place that always brought me peace despite all my wounds: the beach.
I would often take my children to play at the beach, far from the violence we lived with at home. Sitting by the sea, I would watch the waves roll in without end.
“If the waves can keep moving forward, why can’t I?” I thought to myself.
They played in the sand, laughing freely, reminding me why I had to stay strong. At the beach, my children would gather seaweed washed up on the shore, and seeing their joy made me think, “Maybe there’s something bigger here.”
Every time I returned from the beach, I felt like I was discovering new strength and inspiration. I was inspired by the beauty of nature and the incredible health benefits of seaweed. Nature taught me that, no matter how much we struggle, everything we face can also be a source of healing.
One day, as I watched my children so happy with the seaweed they found, the idea came to me: Why not turn this seaweed into a business? I started spending time, often late at night after my children were asleep, researching the nutritional benefits of seaweed. I did all this in secret because my ex-husband didn’t like the idea of me having a business. He feared I would become financially independent and leave him. He even threw away the seaweed I had researched and the notes I had made. All I could do was cry in silence.
There were times I felt anxious and unsure of myself in the situation I was in. But my children were my motivation. With their energy, I began building a small seaweed business from home. Slowly, my business started to get noticed, and my confidence began to grow. This business not only provided me with an income, but also gave me the freedom and independence I had always dreamed of.
With determination and courage, I was able to change my life. My seaweed business became a symbol of strength and resilience. It’s not only transformed my life, but also inspired others that, despite life’s challenges, there’s always hope to start over.
I have big dreams. After years of living in the shadow of domestic violence, I finally found a new strength within me to break free from the toxic relationship. When I faced life-threatening violence, I decided to leave the cycle of suffering.
As a survivor of domestic violence with an alcoholic ex husband, I chose not to give in to my circumstances. Driven by the desire to give my children and myself a better future, I built “Balisiwid,” a seaweed-based business that has now become a symbol of sustainability, women’s empowerment, and my hope.
I dream of making Balisiwid a pioneering woman-led seaweed business, creating opportunities in the global sustainable seaweed industry, while empowering women. I want this dream to turn seaweed into more than just a product; I want it to be a symbol of empowerment, hope, and life transformation.
My Hope
I want Balisiwid to not only become a successful business in the future, but also a movement that supports environmental sustainability and women’s empowerment, proving that from wounds and despair, hope and courage can grow.
My Message:
I am proof that, even from the toughest life experiences, we can rise and create something meaningful. Seaweed has changed my life, but more importantly, I want to change others’ lives through this business.
