Interview with Joanne Lau, President of SWWS in the year 1994
interviewed and written by Priscilla Poul
Q: Before becoming President in 1994, you were already actively involved with SWWS. Could you tell us about your journey?
I first joined SWWS as a volunteer after seeing a call for volunteers. Much of my involvement was with the Crisis Phone Line, where I eventually became the coordinator. Looking back, I realised that before I became President, I had already devoted much of my energy to setting up and strengthening the phone line. Our work involved much more than answering telephone calls. We developed procedures, documented cases, coordinated volunteers, and built a resource directory by contacting various government departments and agencies. There was no internet or Google at that time, so every piece of information had to be gathered manually. To prepare ourselves, SWWS organised specialised training. I attended programmes conducted by Women's Crisis Centre Penang (now Women’s Centre for Change), Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO), Befrienders Kuala Lumpur and Samaritans of Singapore. These experiences taught us crisis intervention, active listening and volunteer management, and became the foundation for the Crisis Phone Line in Sarawak.
Q: What do you remember most about your presidency?
I became President in 1994 when I was only 32 years old, shortly after the Domestic Violence Act was passed by Parliament. The most memorable achievement during my presidency was establishing SWWS's first Drop-in Centre at Batu Lintang. I still remember signing the tenancy agreement with Yayasan Sarawak together with our Secretary, Sheila. It was an exciting moment because we finally had a place where women could seek support. We had very little money. We renovated the premises ourselves. We wanted an open space for activities and only one counselling room. We bought inexpensive flooring, hung donated curtains, and furnished the office with sofas and cushions contributed by volunteers and supporters. Everyone gave whatever they could. Looking back now, it is amazing to think how much was achieved with so few resources.
Q: Besides providing support services, SWWS also organised advocacy campaigns. Could you share one that stands out?
One event I remember clearly was our public awareness march from the Drop-in Centre to the Wisma SABERKAS. It may have been a short march, but it carried an important message. At that time, domestic violence was rarely discussed openly. Society generally expected women to remain silent, be obedient and endure abuse within the family. Through the march, we wanted people to understand that violence against women was unacceptable and that women deserved protection, dignity and justice. My own children joined the march, and years later they still remembered participating in it.
Q: What was it like responding directly to women experiencing domestic violence?
Many of the cases were heart breaking. Sometimes we received calls from women who had been severely assaulted. We did not simply answer the phone; we went out to help them. There were occasions when we visited homes to rescue women from abusive situations and accompanied them to hospital. Looking back, we never really thought about the risks to ourselves. Our priority was simply to ensure that these women reached safety. In those days, before shelters were established, some women even stayed overnight in volunteers' homes because there was nowhere else for them to go.
Q: How important was volunteer training?
Training was absolutely essential. We wanted our volunteers to be equipped to handle crisis situations properly, so SWWS invested in learning from organisations with more experience. I remember visiting Samaritans of Singapore where volunteers managed calls around the clock from people facing severe emotional crises. It was a highly professional service. Learning from organisations such as WAO, Women's Crisis Centre Penang and Befrienders gave us confidence to establish similar support services in Sarawak. We also introduced guidelines for volunteers, including using first names only and ensuring volunteers always had someone to debrief with after difficult calls.
Q: Looking back after 40 years, what does SWWS mean to you?
When I look at SWWS today, I think of a seed that has grown into a tree. In the beginning, we planted that seed with hope. Today, it has grown into a strong organisation that continues to support women, advocate for gender equality and raise awareness throughout Sarawak. I also feel that SWWS changed me personally. The experience gave me confidence; not only as a volunteer and leader, but also as a woman. It taught me to speak up, believe in myself and feel comfortable being a woman with a voice. That, to me, is what empowerment truly means.
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