She rebuilt her life after an abusive marriage and now helps other women do the same

Vatsala’s entrepreneurial instincts came through for her, and she eventually started a home-based business. Several ventures later, she founded Magic Seed, a social enterprise under Moms Village Asia that offers eco-friendly gifts such as plantable name cards, pencils, bookmarks and more. 

Through Magic Seed, women-owned cottage industry businesses have a platform to sell their wares, generating income and breaking the cycle of financial dependence that abuse victims so often face.

“When women are equipped with the tools and support to succeed, the ripple effects extend far—they empower their children, families, and communities,” Vatsala says. 

The enterprise has earned several accolades, including winning third place at SME Bank Sandbox 2023 as well as the IKEA Social Entrepreneurship Top 10 winners 2025, securing funding and recognition for manufacturing Malaysia’s first locally produced seed paper. In 2024, Moms Village Asia Sdn Bhd was one of the recipients of the Hasanah Social Enterprises Fund. 

When Vatsala speaks about her journey, she often returns to one central idea—that freedom without financial stability is fragile. “Change,” she explains, “is not about one dramatic breakthrough; it’s about shifting systems so that mothers no longer have to choose between survival and dignity.”

See also: What should I do if I’m experiencing intimate partner abuse, even if it’s not physically violent (yet)?

Her vision extends beyond immediate crisis intervention. She's working to create an impact fund generated through Magic Seed sales that would provide zero-interest micro-loans to women in crisis. With proper coaching and support, beneficiaries could repay the fund, which would then support another woman. It's a cycle of empowerment, she says, and her focus for the year ahead.

The long-term dream? A sorority-style home for survivors, a safe space where women can receive entrepreneurship training, digital marketing skills and holistic healing whilst rebuilding their lives. She also envisions integrating a batterer intervention programme into domestic violence advocacy, addressing root causes rather than just treating symptoms.

The work takes its toll. “Burnout is real, and I've felt its weight many times,” she admits. What keeps her going is remembering why she started. As a single mother with young children, she has no safety net but herself, which is precisely why she fights to ensure no woman feels trapped because she lacks the means to walk away.

In the course of her journey, she’s learned to see rest not as luxury but as strategy. “Pausing allows me to return stronger, more creative, and even more committed to my mission,” she says. Small rituals help her release and recharge: listening to music, journaling, crafting, dancing to let go of trauma triggers that surface whilst supporting women in crisis.

“My purpose drives me forward and sometimes the most powerful thing I can do is rest, so that I can rise and give my best.”

Her advice to other women? “If your voice matters to the voiceless, use it boldly to silence the noise of doubt and fear. Speak so that, one day, someone can say, ‘Because of you, I didn’t give up.’”

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