Chairman's
Report
July 2001 to June 2002
The
Board of the Shelter looks back with a modicum of pride at our
achievements over the past year.
We have continued
to receive our subvention from the Government on a quarterly basis, which
really goes to the day to day running of the facility. With out the
funding which we receive from the Fernandes Foundation and other
corporations and private citizens we certainly would not be able to
provide many of the services, which we do. The most important being the
counseling for our clients and their children, job training opportunities
and extra schooling, which is often necessary in order to improve
income-earning skills. The cost of relocation expenses is also a matter
for consideration and certainly takes a big chunk of our resources.
Sourcing of Housing for relocation remains the greatest challenge for our
clients.
In
2001 the then Minister of Finance invited a number of NGO's to participate
in a meeting with the Ministry of Finance Budget team prior to the Budget
for 2002. He placed particular emphasis on poverty alleviation. Further to
the Shelter presentation we were asked to submit a proposal for a Second
Base Housing Scheme for victims and their children. Using a model based on
ones that have been successful in the
Apartments
were identified in the proposal that would have been suitable. The
proposal was approved and ten units were assigned to the Shelter to
proceed with the scheme in the 2001-2002 Budget. Following the elections
in December 200 I and the change of Government the Chairman was advised by
the Minister of Housing at a meeting held in his office that the NHA had
been given instructions not to hand the keys over and that the matter had
been put on hold. The Board sees this refusal as a retrograde step; we
honestly believe that the start up of this second base housing scheme
would have been a new and innovative step in empowering women who come out
of domestic violence situations. The Chairman has undertaken to go back to
the present Government and put forward a case to have them look at the
matter again. I have attached a story from the Trinidad Guardian of June
15th the woman had been a resident of the Shelter in 2001 and we feel that
women like her having a chance to live in a controlled environment for a
period of up to 2 years after their relocation from the Shelter stand a
better chance of survival with the correct support systems and ongoing
counseling easily available.
In December the
Shelter became involved in the case of a young Nigerian girl who ran away
from the High Commission claiming abuse, her claims were borne out by the
marks on her body and subsequent medical and psychological assessment done
by a pediatrician and a child psychologist. The Shelter was involved in a
battle in the courts for period of 5 months before the matter was settled
to our satisfaction which saw the young woman returned to her family in
Over the past year we have made some changes to the day to day running of the Shelter as well as having relocated our offices back to the Shelter itself, this is not an ideal situation but will remain in place until better can be done. We have added a Housemother who works with Matron on the day to day running of the house itself, she is Jennifer Talma who previously managed a Geriatric Home. Valerie Aching who has worked on a voluntary basis at the Shelter for many years has now taken up the position of Volunteer Coordinator, Valerie also provides back up for Matron and the Housemother during days off or annual leave, along with our three counselors: Frances, Darlene and Belinda, they make a great team. I am very happy to say that I think in the last year we have come a long way in providing overall services for our clients.
The children’s
counseling programme which Darlene runs is bearing fruit the children of
the women who come to us are as much victims if not more so than their
mothers and with the growing violence in our school system and day to day
lives it is most important that an organization like ours ensures as much
as possible that we help children to cope with their problems in non
violent ways. As we mentioned last year the Shelter has funded a programme,
which Waveney Richards will report on separately.
I
think we can say with all honesty that as an organization we are able to
make a difference in the lives of the women and their children who come to
us for help, in the coming year I personally would like to see us get the
2nd Base housing scheme off the ground. The Board has also been
considering the plight of victims of incest; the present Shelter is not
equipped to deal with the problem, as we are setup at present. The issue
of incest and sexual abuse of minors is a whole different area and we
would like to ensure that if we do anything that it is done properly.
I am very proud to
add that the Shelter has again been approached by one of the other
Donors
Agostini Limited
Association of Female Executives
of T&T
Barbados Mutual
British Gas T &T Limited
C Yip Choy Baillie Ltd Century
Eslon Limited
FCB Training Centre
Fernandes Trust I and II
Grace Chapel
International School Girl Guides Group
Jamaica/T&T Society
Jennifer Georges (Sponsorship form NY Marathon)
Lever Brothers W.I. Limited
Linda's Bakery
Media Sales Limited
Price Waterhouse-Coopers Limited
Radio 97
Republic Bank Trust and Assets (Phillips and Gookool Trusts)
Simple Investments Limited (The Pelican)
The BOSS
TSTT Mobile Services
About The Shelter
The Shelter a safe house for Victims of Domestic
Violence and their children was established in 1987. Diana Mahabir Wyatt
started the Shelter with a group of interested persons, in a house
provided by the Government. I believe that it is one of the first safe
houses for victims of Domestic violence set up in the
From accommodate
first person that was taken in with her children slept on mattresses on
the floor and had styrotex box as a fridge. The Shelter has come a long
way since those humble beginnings.
We can accommodate
25 persons. Our premises consist of 5 bedrooms, three baths and toilets, a
large well equipped kitchen, a dining area, a sitting room with a
te1evision, video player and a radio. We also have an infirmary with space
for four persons, a children's room/library. A sewing room equipped with
four machines and a large cutting table. Back of the living room there is
an adequate outdoors play area for children.
There are separate
Matrons quarters, a small office for the Matron and Housemother and
another room at the back, which is currently being used as the Shelter
office, which is equipped with a computer with email access. There is also
a bedroom and bathroom with its own separate entrance, which is occupied
by Trevor our handyman come security. There is special space for storage
of clothes, which the Shelter receives, these are sorted and washed before
storing, and anything that is not suitable for our use is disposed of
either by passing on to FEEL or other institutions. About two years ago we
also converted part of the garage into a storeroom for storing items of
furniture which we receive as donations, these items are used in our
relocation of the clients. The Shelter acquired a vehicle a couple of
years ago and this has been an invaluable asset.
The women are also
provided with skills training if necessary, assistance with finding jobs
and housing and guidance on accessing support from Government agencies if
needed. We provide relocation expenses for our women in the form of first
months and last months rent and basic furnishings for their new premises
if needed, The Shelter is not about breaking up, families and where it is
possible to assist in reuniting the family by providing access to
counseling for the spouse this is also done. So that in time the family
can be reunited.
The Shelter consists of a Board headed by a Chairman. This Board receives no remuneration of any sort and is made up of nine persons, At present I am proud to say we have been able to attract the services of three gentlemen to the Board. Our paid staff is made up of a Matron who is responsible for the running of the Shelter and admission and discharge of clients. Her job is also to ensure that court and legal matters are followed up and legal aid provided. A Housemother who looks after the basic day to day running of the house, this covers meal planning ensuring that the premises are kept in good repair, helping with the search for affordable housing and jobs as well as training. Schooling for children, the Shelter ensures that once we have a family with children that they are all attending school that if necessary transfers from one school to another is put in place. A part time Volunteer Coordinator her job is just that to coordinate the activities that are undertaken by volunteers these are from providing meals on a Sunday to tin collection and homework supervision among others things. She also helps out at times when either matron or the Housemother is on holiday.
An Administrative
Assistant who runs the office follows up with other NGO's works on donor
funding and does all the paperwork and bookkeeping. The Shelter is very
proud of our record of supplying up to date annual audited accounts. This
job is a three quarter day job and the Admin Asst is also an ex-officio
member of the Board. We also hire three counselors on an hourly basis.
There are plans to increase the duties of one of our counselor social
workers for doing follow-ups with the women especially those we consider
most at risk after leaving the Shelter for a period of up to about one
year. The Chairman holds monthly case with the Matron, Housemother and
Counselors to determine the progress of our clients and to ensure that at
all times the services we are committed to providing are being provided
and that the needs of the clients are being met. A handyman gardener come
security completes our list of salaried staff. The Shelter staff,
counselors, and Board form a team united in its efforts to providing a
safe house for victims of domestic violence and the tools necessary within
our power to be able to resume their lives in the larger community in
safety and with skills to enable them to provide a reasonable living for
themselves and their children.
Recently we have
been asked to advise
About 16 months
ago on the initiative of the Vice Chairman the Shelter in collaboration
with UNESCO and two psychologists launched a pilot program called SUPER in
four schools the first phase of The Shelter UNESCO Project for Equity in
Relationships, (SUPER) has been completed and we are awaiting a report
from the two facilitators. The" Shelter funded this project as we
feel that maybe we could help to stem the cases of Domestic Violence by
education of our young people.
Occupancy
1.
109 Persons housed during 2001 -Adults and children.
2. 75% relocated to
new homes others reunited with family or returned to marital home.
3.
Residents relocated overseas for safety -Mother and 2 children to
4. Two teenage cases taken in 2001. One being the Nigerian Diane Barisua
who has since been returned to her parents in
5. For 2002 9 families relocated.
6. 22 persons checked in to Shelter to date.
2.
75% relocated to new homes others reunited with family or returned to
marital home
4.
Two teenage cases taken in 2001. One being the Nigerian Diane Barisua who
has since been returned to her parents in
5. For
2002 9 families relocated.
6. 22 persons checked in to Shelter to date.
Education
1. Six residents completed computer
course and all received Certificates.
2. One participated in an Adult care programme.
3. Two are awaiting approval to enroll in Adult Care Programme sponsored
by the Ministry.
4. Senior student from
5. Bossierre RC took in 4 students from us.
6. Kindergarten children at
Finances
1. To date have
received US $25,000.00 from Fernandes Trust II
2. Got word from
Michelle Jules -Fernandes Trust I -of US $30,000.00 approved will be in
hand in two months.
3. Government
subventions continue on a quarterly basis but are always received late.
This sometimes poses a cash flow problem but as this is a perennial
problem The Shelter deals with it as best we can. The other funding and
donations which we receive help us to continue to run the Shelter and
provide the many services which the residents require in order to resume
their lives in some semblance of comfort. i.e. Training. Counselling,
Relocation expenses.
Fundraiser
1. QRC college
-Sunday 6th October - Breakfast affair.
Volunteers
1. Tin collection up from 2000. Thanks to
the work of the Volunteer Coordinator and her volunteers.
2. Newsletter being published -quarterly.
3. A number of our volunteers are coordinating
small fundraising efforts to help with on going projects especially our
fund for relocation for women.
Staffing
1. Daytime coordinator for residence added.
THE SHELTER