St. Lucia Crisis Centre – Prevention and Reduction of all Forms of Abuse
By
Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik. In the following another interview about women and
how to help women. We talked to Andrew about the objectives and activities of
the St.
Lucia Crisis Centre, founded
in 1987, and dedicated to the prevention of reduction of all forms of abuse
against men and women to strengthen our society. ProMosaik is convinced that
helping women includes the support of the society and a whole. Over the past 12
years the Crisis Centre has provided counselling and other assistance to over
6000 victims of domestic abuse, including sufferers of rape, incest and
sexually abused children. In recent months there has been a general consensus
among local and regional social workers that domestic abuse and violence is on
the increase in St. Lucia as well as in the rest of the Caribbean.
Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik. In the following another interview about women and
how to help women. We talked to Andrew about the objectives and activities of
the St.
Lucia Crisis Centre, founded
in 1987, and dedicated to the prevention of reduction of all forms of abuse
against men and women to strengthen our society. ProMosaik is convinced that
helping women includes the support of the society and a whole. Over the past 12
years the Crisis Centre has provided counselling and other assistance to over
6000 victims of domestic abuse, including sufferers of rape, incest and
sexually abused children. In recent months there has been a general consensus
among local and regional social workers that domestic abuse and violence is on
the increase in St. Lucia as well as in the rest of the Caribbean.
What
is the main objective of the St. Lucia Crisis Centre?
is the main objective of the St. Lucia Crisis Centre?
Our main
objective is the elimination of all forms of abuse from the society, by
providing psychological support through counselling, education, specific
referrals and networking with agencies that have similar objectives.
objective is the elimination of all forms of abuse from the society, by
providing psychological support through counselling, education, specific
referrals and networking with agencies that have similar objectives.
What
does domestic violence means and which are the most important forms of domestic
violence?
does domestic violence means and which are the most important forms of domestic
violence?
Domestic
violence covers any incident of threatening, violent or abusive behaviour by
persons in an intimate or family type relationship. The most prevalent forms we see here are the
verbal and physical. These seem to be the foundation for other forms as well.
violence covers any incident of threatening, violent or abusive behaviour by
persons in an intimate or family type relationship. The most prevalent forms we see here are the
verbal and physical. These seem to be the foundation for other forms as well.
Which
services do you offer to victims of domestic violence?
services do you offer to victims of domestic violence?
Our services to victims include: Individual counselling, family therapy,
after-school programme to help students with their homework and civic
responsibilities; periodic workshops on domestic violence and parenting skills,
Hotline service, Talks and media sessions on ways to manage stress and domestic
violence, referrals, giving advice and hosting empowerment programmes like
skills training and workshops on interpersonal relationships and work ethics
(when funds are available).
after-school programme to help students with their homework and civic
responsibilities; periodic workshops on domestic violence and parenting skills,
Hotline service, Talks and media sessions on ways to manage stress and domestic
violence, referrals, giving advice and hosting empowerment programmes like
skills training and workshops on interpersonal relationships and work ethics
(when funds are available).
Which
are the most important strategies to help women out?
are the most important strategies to help women out?
Counselling, empowerment programmes to help them see themselves in a
more positive light, and skills training.
more positive light, and skills training.
How to help children?
Children need a lot of counseling, help with
their homework, guidance on etiquette, financial support and referrals to other
social service providers.
their homework, guidance on etiquette, financial support and referrals to other
social service providers.
What
have you reached until now and what would you like to achieve in the near
future?
have you reached until now and what would you like to achieve in the near
future?
Our agency has so far made a small contribution in creating awareness of
domestic violence and its consequences, we have hosted camps for needy children,
we have done skills training and empowerment exercises for women when funds are
available, and we have built goodwill with the society at large.
domestic violence and its consequences, we have hosted camps for needy children,
we have done skills training and empowerment exercises for women when funds are
available, and we have built goodwill with the society at large.
In the future, we would like to employ more staff, host a texting
platform where people, especially the youth can text for help, have greater
collaboration with the schools to help more children and to have a permanent
home owned by the Centre.
platform where people, especially the youth can text for help, have greater
collaboration with the schools to help more children and to have a permanent
home owned by the Centre.
