Put an end to bullying

What a heartbreaking story!

There is a petition to sign at:

http://www.freesarakruzan.org/apps/links/

Notes from meeting held Saturday 16th January 2010

There was a poor turnout to the meeting, especially as the first meeting of the year is usually well attended. However, those volunteers in attendance contributed enthusiastically to the issues addressed.

• The next meeting will be held in the form of a retreat, whereby volunteers will be given self enrichment exercises and tools on how to nurture oneself.  The Wyndham Hotel has offered a room for the event and we have to give them numbers and a budget so they can provide refreshments.  We will also be discussing the future direction of the Crisis Centre, including fund raising, Hotline services, media and looking at partnering with men to help meet the challenges we face.
• Patty Solomon is an operatic singer who now lives in Switzerland. She would like to put on a concert in aid of the Crisis Centre and will be visiting the Bahamas again sometime before November. Volunteers felt it important to ask her what format the concert should take and if she would be willing to have other local artistes perform.  Donna suggested that the Nassau Music Society could be asked to assist as they have a wealth of experience in organizing similar events.
• The issue of Spousal Rape was addressed once more. The Prime Minister has stated that he intends for the amendment to be passed and volunteers were asked how best we can support his efforts. It was suggested that volunteers write to their MP to express the importance of passing the amendment. Other ways of keeping the issue alive might be to hold a demonstration in Rawson Square on a day when the House meets and present the members with a petition. A Clothesline project, with stories of victims of spousal rape could be held at the same time to add a dynamic element to the event.  Other ideas included presentations  to members of Womens’ Groups and Unions, etc. A standard presentation could be prepared with this in mind. Rosella and Maudlin offered to assist with presentations. We then watched Dr. Ada Thompson’s presentation at the workshop held late last year, in which she very effectively gave the biblical interpretation of the human rights of men and women in relationships, particularly sexual relationships. It was also suggested that the whole workshop should  be shown on local television.
• This discussion led into ongoing concern about the anger emanating from teenagers in particular and the concern that the Family Life Program in schools was not adequately addressing the issue of conflict resolution.
• Fay brought up the issue of receiving Hotline calls where we are asked to provide or suggest accommodation for women and children in danger. This is an ongoing problem and the calls often come from the Police. As most safe houses require Social Services intervention, applications for shelter can only be made during working hours.

Volunteers will be informed by email and this blog as to the location of the retreat or, alternatively, can call the office to get details.

Meeting Saturday 16th January 2010

Just a reminder that the meeting is today! Hope everyone received the email sent from the office. We look forward to seeing you there!

Happy New Year!

Wishing all our volunteers and supporters a happy, healthy, peaceful and blessed New Year.

Thank you!

Thanks to those volunteers who  cooked or/and helped out at the Children’s Christmas party yesterday. It was a great success though unfortunately, the gifts did not arrive. However, the entertainment and food were excellent. We had about 17 volunteers helping, which was just enough to serve food and clean up afterwards. The children appeared to have had a wonderful time and that is all that really matters.

Again, wishing all our volunteers a happy and peaceful Christmas!

Season’s Greetings to all our volunteers!

The Crisis Centre wishes all our volunteers and supporters  a safe, blessed and peaceful Christmas.

For activities planned to celebrate the season, please call 328-0922 for details

Notes from meeting held 21st November 2009

There was a very poor turnout to the meeting on Saturday. As this is Crisis Centre Month, it would have been great to see more volunteers so that they could be kept up to date with our activities for the month. Dr. Patterson reminded volunteers of the high per capita rate of rape, assault and murder in the Bahamas and the need for our work to continue and expand.

The Workshop on Teen Relationship Violence which took place last week at the East Street Gospel Chapel was a huge success with about 70 senior high school students attending and dynamic presentations being made. A skit, written by Thea Rutherford and Samitria Miller, and acted by Joy Burrows from C.R Walker and Lorenzo Charles from CC Sweeting was well received.

As this Wednesday, 25th November, is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, a workshop will be held at Transfiguration Church Hall at Market and Vesey Street from 9-12.30. Speakers will address issues of sexual violence, including spousal rape and it is hoped that there will be a good turnout of participants from all sectors of the community.  All aspects of sexual violence will be addressed.

The newspaper supplement is published with the Tribune, today, so we hope everyone will buy a copy to read the contributions made by volunteers and messages from Ministers Dion Foulkes and Loretta Butler-Turner and a Proclamation from the Prime Minister, Mr. Hubert Ingraham. It promises to be an interesting document.

The children’s Christmas party was discussed but we are unable to give a date as yet as the people who so kindly visit the Bahamas bringing gifts for the children are not as yet able to say exactly when they will be visiting.

More FM  would like to organize a teddy bear drive for children seen at the Centre and any donations can be taken to Peggy’s Hat Shop on Blue Hill Road.

It was suggested that, in place of the usual monthly meeting in January, we hold a half day retreat for volunteers. Possible locations were discussed and the matter will be considered further and volunteers informed of the location in due course.

The need for another Family Island Workshop was expressed as the social workers, police and teachers on many of the islands can feel very isolated when challenged with issues of child abuse, rape and domestic violence. It is hoped to hold the Workshop early in the New Year.

Volunteers will be kept informed on plans for the children’s Christmas party and it is hoped we can get full participation in the event.

Stay safe and watch this space for more information!

Notices

Just some reminders!

19th November: Workshop on Teen Relationship Violence

21st November: Monthly meeting

24th November: Newspaper supplement with the Tribune

25th November: Workshop on Sexual Violence

November is Crisis Centre Month

Well, we are now into November which is being recognized as Crisis Centre Month. We are focusing on Teen Relationship Violence with the theme ” Love Shouldn’t Hurt”

Activities will include a Workshop on the 19th November at the East Street Gospel Chapel (please note change in venue) East Street from 9-12.30, a newspaper supplement filled with articles, poems and messages to educate and support teens as we  address this sensitive issue, a play to be recorded and shown in schools and at other locations, demonstrating typical teenage scenarios and visits to schools to talk about Teen Relationship Violence.

Stephanie Smollett has created some beautiful posters for the month and volunteers and supporters have submitted work for inclusion in the supplement.

We do hope that the end result will be an increased awareness of the challenges which meet  our young people  today and ways and means in which we can help them meet these challenges.