MS SUSAN MALA | SOLOMON ISLANDS | BACHELOR OF ARTS, 2024
My Journey in Life
Family Background
My name is Susan Mala, and I grew up in a large family with 12 siblings—seven brothers and five sisters. I’m the third youngest. My father was a dedicated man who ensured we never went without a meal, and my mother was equally hardworking, instilling strong values of discipline and respect in all of us. Both of my parents were deeply religious and imparted essential life values such as ethics, customs, and a strong sense of honour. They emphasized treating others with respect, dignity, and kindness, and I hold their teachings close to my heart. I am eternally grateful for the role they played in shaping who I am today.
Educational Journey
I began my education at Tumurora Primary School, attending from grades 1 to 6. For secondary school, I studied at Avuavu Secondary School for forms 1 to 3, then moved to St. Joseph Tenaru for forms 4 and 5. I completed form 6 at Honiara High School. Unfortunately, due to the ethnic tensions on my island of Guadalcanal involving conflicts between the Malaitan people and Guadalcanal residents, I couldn’t continue to form 7 or attend college.
My Tragedy (Part I)
During the ethnic conflict, I was forcibly taken and married to a man I didn’t choose. He was a feared commando in the GRA, and my family couldn’t intervene due to fear. I spent three years in his village, trapped and isolated, enduring physical abuse. We had three children, Mary, Casper, and Jasmine, close in age, all born at home. He would lock me in the house without food for days, and each day he threatened me, saying that one day he would kill me.
He forced me to perform difficult tasks like cutting down trees and planting bananas at night, all while holding our children. His violent outbursts terrified me, and I endured constant fear and physical pain. I was isolated from his family and forbidden to speak to anyone. I contemplated ending my life at times, but the thought of my children kept me going. Eventually, after three long years, he was arrested, and his mother urged me to return to my parents.
Back home, the abuse didn’t stop; he often came to our village, threatening us and trying to take me back. My family protected me, ensuring I was never alone, but the fear persisted. He brought people—police officers, pastors, lawyers—to try to force me back, but my father stood firm, refusing to let him near me after all I had been through.
My daughter Jasmine was born in my home village, and by the time she was eight months old, I was accepted into the RSIPF police force in 2005, with the help of my brother-in-law, a police officer. I left my three children in the loving care of my parents and siblings while I completed the police academy’s four-month training program.
My Tragedy (Part II)
At the police academy, my ex-husband continued to harass me, showing up and trying to intimidate me through senior officers. I avoided him as best as I could. With the support of the academy and the public solicitor’s office, I was granted custody of my children and a protection order.
Amid the harassment, I entered a new relationship, hoping it would stop my ex-husband’s intimidation. Unfortunately, this new relationship turned into a different kind of abuse—psychological, emotional, and financial. My new partner had hidden his previous marriage from me, and after our daughter was born prematurely, I discovered the truth. He was still in contact with his wife.
His treatment of my three children from my previous marriage was especially hurtful. He refused to bond with them, particularly with my son Casper, and withheld basic necessities from us. His emotional and verbal abuse worsened over time, constantly belittling me and my children. The tension and cruelty escalated to the point where Casper, my son, expressed suicidal thoughts because of his stepfather’s treatment.
Realizing I had to protect my children, I decided to leave him for good. The final straw came when he told my son to “go eat from the toilet bowl.” After years of enduring his behaviour, I sought legal protection through the Family Support Centre and was granted an Interim Protection Order for myself and my children.
New Chapter
Today, I hope to move forward with my life free from abuse and pain. My wish is for my children to experience happiness and fulfillment, free from the hardships they’ve endured. Despite everything, I continued to pursue my education, and, in April 2024, I proudly graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Having survived and overcome such adversity, I feel a strong sense of responsibility to help other women and girls trapped in cycles of abuse. Many suffer in silence, and too many lose their lives to domestic violence. This fuels my passion for change and led me to pursue studies in law, human resource management, and employment relations. My goal is to become a lawyer and advocate for domestic violence victims, offering them the support and resources they need to break free from abusive situations.
I’m deeply grateful to my children, my family, and everyone who has supported me through my darkest moments. I believe that God, watching over us, has seen our struggles and will continue to guide us towards healing. I hope my story can serve as a beacon of hope for those suffering in silence from domestic violence.
