A Safe Haven for Female Travelers
The 11th session of the 41st round of private educational workshops for Congress 60’s Companions at the Sattar khan branch was conducted with OT Assistant and Traveler Elnaz as the guest speaker, Companion Farah as the session’s guardian, and Companion Zahra as the secretary.
Summary of the Speaker’s Remarks:
I am delighted to be here alongside two dedicated OT service members for female travelers and to have the opportunity to speak with you, dear companions, at the Sattar khan branch. I would like to congratulate all of you on Companion’s Week, which was celebrated last week.
As Mr. Dezhakam stated in last Wednesday’s session, this year marks the first time that the topic of "Female Travelers" has been officially included in the annual agenda of Congress 60. In the past, attempts to establish a female travelers’ group were repeatedly discontinued due to the lack of a suitable platform. However, with Mr. Dezhakam’s vision and wisdom, this group was successfully established. If not for his foresight, female travelers might not have achieved the strength and confidence they possess today. I extend my gratitude to him and to the female travelers who stood by him in the early days.
This topic in the annual agenda of Congress 60 has helped break the taboo surrounding female substance users who have experienced the deepest darkness in their lives. We recognize that society’s perception of people with substance use disorders is often negative, leading to inappropriate behavior even toward men. Now, imagine how much harsher the judgment, exclusion, and disrespect can be towards women facing the same struggle. Many women who have struggled with substance use, for whatever reason, face stigma and isolation simply because of their dark past.
It is extremely difficult for a woman to openly talk about her addiction. Outside of Congress 60, when people find out about a woman’s substance use, they often assume she has crossed every moral boundary and unfairly label her. But why? Because, in most cases, lack of awareness was the main reason she ended up struggling with addiction.
The inclusion of this topic in Congress 60’s agenda, along with Mr. Dezhakam’s vision and the organization’s treatment methods, has helped shift this perspective. The way I, Elnaz, move forward on the path of values is important because my actions can serve as an example for those still struggling with addiction at home—people who may be our loved ones. You may fear society’s judgment, but the right education and the right steps I take as a traveler in Congress 60 can become a message of hope for those seeking treatment but who have lost their way.
It is important to note that Congress 60 does not accept individuals dependent on medical or pharmacy-prescribed pills—it only provides treatment for substance and alcohol users. I truly hope that the female traveler community continues to grow stronger, so that we can establish more branches across the country. In the past, there was only one Academy branch for female travelers. After several years, Isfahan’s Yas branch was added. But today, we have nine branches, which I believe is a result of the valuable education female travelers receive from Mr. Dezhakam and Congress 60.
The female travelers’ community within Congress 60 provides a safe and secure environment, which, without it, my own family might not have allowed me to participate. When someone wants to bring a female traveler into Congress 60, they can feel reassured knowing that no men are present in the female travelers’ section, except for Mr. Dezhakam, whose presence we are honored to have.
Our weekly gatherings in the area parks take place on Thursdays, where female travelers exercise in a dedicated women’s section—something that isn’t available in every park. We receive treatment in a secure and exclusive environment, fostering independence. Additionally, all operations within the female travelers’ section are managed by women, under the guidance of Mr. Dezhakam.
As an OT Assistant, I can proudly say that all OT-related tasks of female travelers are handled by themselves. Women who visit the clinic to receive medication never encounter male patients, as no men are scheduled to receive treatment at the same time. This high level of privacy and security is a unique feature of Congress 60, allowing women struggling with addiction to seek treatment without fear of stigma or having their identity exposed.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Traveler Mona, the Secretary of the Female Travelers’ Assistants Council, whose efforts in recent years have helped strengthen this section’s strengths and overcome its challenges. I also extend my appreciation to all assistants and service members working in the female travelers’ section.
One challenge I’d like to address—though rare—relates to female companions within Congress 60. Some female companions attempt to follow a treatment plan provided by their husbands, who may be guides or former guides. Unfortunately, these women often fail to recover and eventually turn to the female travelers' section in a worsened state. This approach has repeatedly proven ineffective, as a husband prescribing a recovery plan for his wife does not lead to successful treatment.
Since the female travelers' section offers a secure and structured environment with a strong and independent recovery process, there is no reason these women shouldn’t take full advantage of this safe space.
I sincerely hope that those who are still hesitant—whether outside Congress 60 or among us today—see this session as an opportunity to take the first step toward treatment. Ultimately, we are all seeking peace and balance in our lives, and the goal of recovery is to learn how to live correctly. May we all strive to become the best versions of ourselves and achieve the peace and serenity we deserve.
Translated by: Traveler Arash, Artesh Branch
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Edited by: Companion Marjan