A Celebration of Women™

is elated to Celebrate the Life of this transformed woman, one that rose above her own adversity, self doubt and on a mission to empower all women, especially those that suffer from childhood abuse and/or molestation. She trailed a path in this world to find her ‘purpose in life’ and achieve fulfillment.

This gypsy soul … a true Power of Example for all the women of our world, she is now here to help YOU do the same.

 
 
 

WOMAN of ACTION™

 

 

Suha Sagban

 
 
 
 

I like to call myself a Global Child because I could never resonate with one place as home.

Born in Lebanon right when the 15 year civil war broke out, to Iraqi parents and then moved to the United Arab Emirates when I was 8 months old.

As is the case with the Middle East, the ‘search for security‘ continued until my parents settled in the Emirate of Sharjah.

We went to the best schools and then got shipped back to the American University of Beirut in Lebanon right after the war ended – how ironic! 🙂.
 
 
I got married in 1997 and then moved back to Dubai with my husband, living a fairy tale existence grounded on ‘convenience’…

“My life was what you could call ‘picture perfect‘- all solid on the outside, with major holes on the inside.”

Living in Dubai was what I refer to as ‘convenient‘- we had the house, the cars, the nanny, the social status, the perfect design of a family.

But something was always off!

I never felt fulfilled. I was living a life inside of a ‘bubble‘.

 
Of course I never realized that until we made our move to Toronto, Canada in 2010.

That is when things got interesting … getting naked with the truth!

 
Canada had always sat in my head as an opportunity for self-expression. What I never expected was that I had to see the truth through a newer lens in ‘being naked‘. You see I, like many women, had mastered the ‘art of masking‘.

My frustration, anger and loneliness was covered by the ‘convenience‘ of life.

The more the layers of convenience, the deeper the core got buried. However, here I am, in 2010, in a completely new space. I no longer had the family, friends and fortune to hide behind.

Everything had to come to a STOP, leaving me with a need to Take Action, alone.

You see I thought I had read all the ‘solutions‘. I had read the Chopra books, expanded my horizon with Dr. Brian Weiss and knew how to step into my purpose with Robin Sharma; but nothing shifted. Nothing shifted until one night I got in that fetal position and decided I had to make a shift.

 

I had to get real and find my strength and at that moment all I found was emptiness.

• How can I mask a failing marriage without the financial independence?
• How can I thrive with an empty purpose, without connections?
• How will I live in loneliness without the many nights of salsa dancing?
• How can I mask my ultimate in authenticity without my ‘circle’ telling me all is absolutely perfect?

 
Yes, it was going to be scary and I hadn’t the faintest clue to what it could possibly look like, but I surrendered.

‘Pain pushes until vision pulls‘ – Michael Beckwith.

I had to find my purpose if I were to consider being alive.

I had to give up my position of being victimized by my circumstances. I had to face my fake persona and dig deeper. Like peeling the layers of an onion, it required tears to reach the core.

‘I let it go and started from scratch until it all made sense to me.’

I found out how to make me happy. I found out how to love and forgive ME. I understood the importance of reaching out and how it is within our vulnerability that we find our ultimate strength. I gave up the artist’s pen and became the canvas. I finally found out what matters most to me.

The years of self-sabotage made me stronger. The depth of un-worthiness made me hungrier. I now have a mission.

My best act yet
I finally got clear on the lessons I was given to learn. I became connected to the beauty that surrounds me and discovered my purpose in loving people. I continued my path in coaching. The more women I coach, the clearer life gets for me. And the stronger my yearning to be part of the new earth.

By October 2012, I finally launched The Orkid Project.

 
A 2 year old dream of mine to take a stand for the empowerment & vitality of women.

During my years of coaching I saw one thing to be true.

Our fathers will tell us what we can and cannot do with our bodies, our shape is compared to our mums, aunts and grandmothers and as soon as we embark on more intimate relationships, our sense of sensuality is connected to how well we may please our partners.

This is a global truth from the ‘East to the West‘.

Top it off with an unbelievable statistic of 4 out of 5 women will have been exposed to ‘molestation or abuse‘ by the time she has hit her 30s.

My Orkid Ladies and I stand for the support and accountability for women in taking back ownership of their bodies and un-raveling their true and beautiful natures.

It is our time to show up in the world. We will do so within a space of love, connection & commitment.    The Orkid Project
 
 

‘There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.’ Maya Angelou

 
‘Child sexual abuse’ or ‘child molestation’ is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities (regardless of the outcome), indecent exposure (of the genitals, female nipples, etc.) to a child with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to intimidate or groom the child, physical sexual contact with a child, or using a child to produce child pornography.

The effects of child sexual abuse can include depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, propensity to further victimization in adulthood, and physical injury to the child, among other problems.

Sexual abuse by a family member is a form of incest, and can result in more serious and long-term psychological trauma, especially in the case of parental incest.

The global prevalence of child sexual abuse has been estimated at 19.7% for females and 7.9% for males, according to a 2009 study published in Clinical Psychology Review that examined 65 studies from 22 countries. Using the available data, the highest prevalence rate of child sexual abuse geographically was found in Africa (34.4%), primarily because of high rates in South Africa; Europe showed the lowest prevalence rate (9.2%); America and Asia had prevalence rates between 10.1% and 23.9%. In the past, other research has concluded similarly that in North America, for example, approximately 15% to 25% of women and 5% to 15% of men were sexually abused when they were children.

Most sexual abuse offenders are acquainted with their victims; approximately 30% are relatives of the child, most often brothers, fathers, uncles or cousins; around 60% are other acquaintances such as ‘friends’ of the family, babysitters, or neighbors; strangers are the offenders in approximately 10% of child sexual abuse cases. Most child sexual abuse is committed by men; studies show that women commit 14% to 40% of offenses reported against boys and 6% of offenses reported against girls.

Most offenders who sexually abuse prepubescent children are pedophiles, although some offenders do not meet the clinical diagnosis standards for pedophilia.

Under the law, “child sexual abuse” is an umbrella term describing criminal and civil offenses in which an adult engages in sexual activity with a minor or exploits a minor for the purpose of sexual gratification.

The American Psychiatric Association states that “children cannot consent to sexual activity with adults“, and condemns any such action by an adult:

“An adult who engages in sexual activity with a child is performing a criminal and immoral act which never can be considered normal or socially acceptable behavior.“

 
 

Suha Sagban, Founder
The Orkid Project

Our ‘tribe’, as Oprah Winfrey, refers to it (our belief systems, our family’s opinions, our judgement …) sometimes get in the way.

But, with a little love and tenderness, we can give that tribe a fresh new perspective.

I look forward to personally hearing from you.

To your success in life …

Email: [email protected] | Skype: SuhaSagban |Cell: 1 647 998-8538

Facebook: http://www.fb.com/OrkidWealth

Suha Sagban, Founder
The Orkid Project

 
 
 
 

A Celebration of Women™

 

welcomes you with open arms into our global Alumni of women leaders and looks forward to a lifetime of contributions to the inspirational transformation and betterment of lives for of all the women of our world.

 

 

Brava Suha!