By ALEXIS CAREY
Warning: This article could be triggering to anyone who has been the victim of sexual assault or abuse or domestic violence.
In 2011, US teen Grace Brown began taking powerful photographs of sexual assault survivors holding chilling quotes from their attackers.
Brown, then a 19-year-old student, created the Project Unbreakable campaign after a close friend revealed her own experience with sexual abuse.
It began as a small, personal project but it struck a chord with many survivors and within weeks, people from across the globe were emailing in their own photos and stories, like this one:
And this one:
The result is an online photography campaign which is definitely confronting, but also incredibly, incredibly moving and inspiring.
Today, Project Unbreakable has become a global phenomenon and more than 4,000 photographs have been included.
It has expanded to include survivors of child abuse and domestic violence and the project’s mission is “to increase awareness of the issues surrounding sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence, and encourage the act of healing through art.”
While the initial aim of the photos was to simply raise awareness of sexual assault, it has grown to become a way of giving survivors a voice.
For many, it is also an important part of the healing process and a way to reclaim the power of the words used against them by their attackers.
These days, the Project Unbreakable team tours North American colleges and universities to spread their message and raise awareness of violence and sexual assault.
Top Comments
This campaign should be getting more publicity
So brave
As a rape survivor myself this was difficult to read as it's so close to home. It is horrendous to realise just how many women experience sexual assault or abuse as I know how devastating and life changing it can be. I related to the quotes from these girl's mums as my mother reacted badly too and it was the most hurtful, awful thing as you always think your mum will be your number 1 supporter. I remember calling the rape crisis line in immense distress, telling my story only for the lady to say 'it could have been worse, other times this and this happens' which just made me feel even more ashamed and ridiculous for feeling the way I did. It has been almost 6 years and I still randomly think of my attacker, am cautious around men and sometimes experience flashbacks.