Last Saturday, November 25, at the Bustamante Highway Church of God of Prophecy, over 20 stakeholders in the parish of Clarendon received certificates of participation under the implementation of the UN Women Spotlight Initiative programme by the Free Town Foundation.
One of the participants making a point.
The event, which was held on the day marked for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, saw participants being urged by speakers to “keep the family together."
Dr. Barbara Black of Divine Exchange Ministries Christian Church in Kingston, pointing out that the family is the training ground for every human being and the first point of socialisation, encouraged that parents have a responsibility to bring up their children with the right skill and knowledge set to endure that certain practices do not take place in society.
“If you want to change society, you have to change the landscape of the family.
because any building without a foundation will crumble. Every boy can learn to respect women if taught before they become men,” she points out.
One of the sessions
Other speakers, which included Woman Constable Yvonne Griffiths, Tennielle Campbell, mental health officer at the Clarendon Health Department, Michelle Callaghan Graham, and Michelle Hylton, explored topics such as the effect of GBV on the community, on children, and on the health sector.
There were some emotional moments as survivors opened up about their pain and frustrations within the system to secure justice.
There were insightful moments too, as guidance counsellors who attended multiple sessions said it opened their eyes and gave them insights on how they could make their work more effective.
“Based on the experience from the sessions I have attended, I am now realising that some behaviours are coming from childhood abuse and have stemmed over into their relationship. Even though I am a trained guidance counsellor, there were some revelations for me,” said Valrie Campbell James.
The pastor of the church, William Hutchinson, in praising the programme, said he will be putting the training to good use by using it as a tool in his counselling sessions. The event on Saturday was so emotional and educational that he mused on how it would have been so valuable to others.
The first activity under the Spotlight Initiative was held on Saturday, September 30, under the theme ‘Empowering the Community for a Violence-Free Future', with light being shed on topics such as Root Causes of Gender-Based Violence by Monique Long, Planning & Coordination Special, UN Women Multi Country Office, Caribbean.
Saturday, October 14, was an empowerment session for survivors and victims, with guidance counsellors, pastors, and others in the wings ready to offer support.
There was a powerful presentation from one survivor, Shellie Smith, who broke free and is now using her Empowered to Soar Foundation to offer other females an opportunity to earn
She also urged other women not to be afraid to step out of their situations and seek support. She said she eventually got the courage to do it for the sake of her children.
Saturday, October 28, saw the MOGAVA team—Downer and Blake—rapping with men and showing them alternative means of dealing with their anger, treating women the way they should, and stepping up to be the men God created them to be.
They also debunked the myth that “real men don’t cry, when in fact it was encouraged!
The Spotlight Initiative focuses on addressing all forms of family violence, which covers physical, social, sexual, economic, and emotional abuse and acts of aggression within relationships that are considered family connections or akin to family connections.
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