Hello, my name is Ewelina Chin. The story I carry is one of transformation — a journey marked by pain, courage, and ultimately, purpose.
 
From childhood through my early years as a young woman, trauma was an unwelcome companion in my life. It shaped me in silence, casting long shadows that followed me into adulthood. But the darkest chapter began when I met my second husband — a man whose cruelty was inhuman. That period was a time of fear and survival. It wasn’t just my own life I had to protect anymore — it was my beloved son’s too. His safety, his future, became the fire that lit the path forward.

The only way out was to leave — completely. So we did. We came to Scotland, not knowing what to expect but hoping for something better. What we found was more than a new location; we found a sanctuary. Surrounded by breathtaking landscapes and kind-hearted people, this place soon became more than a refuge — it became our home.

Though my background is in finance and business, my heart has always belonged to service. Supporting those in need has never been a choice — it’s been a calling. Still, it took me over eight years to step beyond the boundaries of safety and stability, to turn my experiences into action. I had spent years in therapy, counseling, doing the hard work to heal from what had nearly broken me. And though I’m deeply grateful for that support, I often felt unseen — the systems I turned to were professional but impersonal, functional but not truly healing. They didn’t meet the raw, human parts of me that needed compassion and validation.
I’ve been blessed with a strong network of supportive friends and family. But I know too many women walk this journey alone. Too many are left to carry the weight of their abuse and trauma without anyone to help shoulder it. That’s when I understood what destiny was calling me to do.

I knew I had a duty — not just to myself, but to every woman like me.

I envisioned a space where women survivors of trauma in Scotland could find what I had searched so long for: a safe, healing, inclusive space where every voice is heard and every story is held with care. A place where therapy is not one-size-fits-all, but tailored to individual healing needs. Where women who speak other languages, who live with neurodivergence, mental health struggles, or physical challenges are not made to feel "less than" — but are listened to, honoured, and supported with dignity.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it pushed vulnerable women even further into the margins. While immediate crises took priority, many trauma survivors lost access to support entirely. There were no therapy sessions, no safe places, no resources. And so I acted.

In August 2019 registered charity was founded – Healed Scars, I brought together a group of mindful women and we launched our first project: the Empowerment Calendar 2020, showcasing 12 extraordinary women who had overcome trauma and found their way back to life. That project, humble as it was, sparked something bigger. We secured a small amount of funding — just enough to provide up to four therapy sessions to a handful of women. It was a beginning.

By October 2020, HSTAR Scotland officially became an incorporated Scottish charity. From that moment, we began to grow — slowly, then steadily — driven by passion, shaped by lived experience, and grounded in trauma-informed principles. By mid of 2024, we had become a pioneering organisation in Scotland, offering complex, multi-level trauma recovery services across Forth Valley. Today, we serve over 800 women each year.

HSTAR Scotland has become more than just a service — it has become a lifeline. For many women in our community, this has been the first time they’ve been truly seen, heard, and believed. The space we’ve created is not clinical or detached, but warm, safe, and rooted in understanding. Survivors often come to us feeling isolated, dismissed, or invisible — especially those navigating trauma alongside language barriers, neurodivergence, or physical and mental health challenges. Here, they find a connection. They find validation. They find community. By offering person-centred, trauma-informed care, we’ve helped women reclaim their voices, rebuild their self-worth, and take powerful steps toward healing. Our impact is measured not just in numbers, but in the way women walk out of our doors — stronger, lighter, and no longer alone.

The journey hasn’t been easy. The past five years have been filled with long days and personal sacrifices. But they have also been the most meaningful, humbling, and enriching years of my life. Surrounded now by a brilliant team of trustees, volunteers, staff, and service providers, I can say with pride and gratitude: that my dream has come true.

We have built something rare. Something real. A place of hope and healing, powered by compassion, knowledge, and a deep understanding of trauma. Every step of this journey has been about giving back — because I know what it means to be voiceless. And now, I know what it means to give others their voice back.

From surviving… to healing… to serving. This is what I was meant to do.