Be proactive and not reactive.
Words of advice to women in abusive relationships and homes by Madinah House president, Lydia Choate.
Over the past 16 years, she said Madinah House has provided shelter to more than 1,000 women and children and has even housed women who were human trafficked.
Choate said the non-profit organisation was more than a shelter. “More that just a shelter” is the organisation’s motto.
She encouraged women in abusive relationships and homes to develop a safety plan.
“Do not wait to be maimed or killed. Be proactive and not reactive, she said.
She also called on affected women to have a support group of trustworthy people whom they can rely on when faced with a crisis.
“Let us use words that would help, uplift and heal; not bring down the other person. Let us learn to manage conflict and understand our triggers that lead us to be angry,” she said.
The organisation hosted its 17th annual fundraising luncheon yesterday at the Imani Hall, Cipero Street in San Fernando.
Madinah House also partners with the Ministry of National Security to temporarily house women who have been lured into T&T by men who promised them a brighter future, Choate said.
Madinah House was established by ‘MusServ’ through guidance officer Gayaz Rajab, now deceased. In 1999, Madinah House entered a lease agreement for a property to house the women’s shelter.
Choate said: “We provide a space where they start to heal from the physical, emotional and psychological battering. We see the scars of brutality brought on by partners who lack self-esteem, who feel powerful when they bully those perceived to be weaker, who use words to wound and demean, who do not appreciate their partners, who do not show love and respect, who use power and control to isolate the from friends and family, who stalk and monitor their every move and who send abusive texts and use money as a lever.”
Former first lady Zalayhar Hassanali who is a patron to organisation said she did not think the Government truly
appreciated all of the hardwork and efforts by similar organisations.
She said the subventions do not always arrive on time and sometimes were not very much.
However, the wife of the former president of T&T made a plea for citizens to make a greater effort to focus on country.
“We are a little bit worried at the moment at what is happening in our country. Let us do our own little part in our own little corner.
“We have to help because we don’t want to see anything go wrong with this little paradise that we live in. We want to make sure that the country progresses,” Hassanali added.
Guest speaker, general manager of The Rape Crisis Society of T&T, Natalie O’Brady said greater investment in family was needed. Her address focused on family life and raising healthy families.