Thank you!
“A big thank you to all our volunteers, university students, trainee counsellors and peer mentors
for your hard work, commitment and ongoing support. Without each and every one of you we
would not be able to ensure continued services for women and children who have experienced and/or are at risk of domestic abuse. In particular we bid an emotional farewell to our EVS volunteers. Volunteers who came through the Erasmus+ European Voluntary Service and have been supporting our front-line and support services for a year. We are extremely grateful for their support and we will miss them as they move onto pastures new! Whilst we're sad to say goodbye to our new friends, we look forward to welcoming 10 new EVS placements in March� Marta Rios (Volunteer Engagement Lead)
In this issue... EDITORIAL Dear readers, The spring is coming. It is time for The Tree of Hope on the cover page to renew its leaves, but without forgetting the hopes and dreams that they represent. For us, the newsletter team, it is time to say goodbye to our EVS team and welcome a new group of committed European volunteers. We want to thank them all for their hard work and commitment. We also want to keep you informed about all the exciting things taking place at The Haven.
We have an interview with Kulvinder Kaur, the voice of the helpline; in addition we have a special article about two inspirational women of our time: Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar, Iraqi Yazidi activists.
The Haven’s Voice Who is behind Help line? Interview with Kully Kaur. Page 4
Get Involved Get involved in our events and have fun! Pages 5 - 6
What’s On What are volunteers doing? Discover it and join them. Pages 11-12
Don’t forget to check inside to find information about the activities that volunteers are organising, join them and make a difference! Enjoy! The Newsletter Team Editorial Team: Khatira Zearmal
Maëlle Ortscheit
Sara Casas
Maisha Khanom
Natalia Boville
Soraya Bravo
Graphic
Designer:
Soraya Bravo
Management:
Marta Rios
In this issue: Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar, Iraqi Yazidi activists Pages 9-10
Discover our artists, and find interesting trainings. Page 16
The opinions expressed in this magazine are the author's own 2 and do not reflect the view of The Haven Wolverhampton.
THE HAVEN’S VOICE
Who is behind the helpline? By: Natalia Boville. EVS Volunteer I had the pleasure of interviewing Kulvinder Kaur, the heart of the helpline. The woman who has been the solace of many people, and in many cases their salvation. Starting as a volunteer she was placed in refuges, then she became a sessional worker and now our Senior Single Point of Contact . “I felt that I had found my niche on the helpline”. Her duties entail: answering calls that come through the helpline whether the caller wants to talk or get advice, wants refuge accommodation, or simply needs to be signposted to other agencies. She also books in callers for our drop in surgeries and keeps our database updated with the incoming referrals.
Kully, you share difficult experiences daily with women suffering domestic abuse, would you say that this job has affected you in your own daily life?
Yes, I would. There are cases that have affected me and I do take them home with me. However, I feel blessed that I am in a position to help people, either by bringing them into refuges or signposting them to other agencies. Is there any case that you specially remember, that has deeply impressed you? There is one case which hurts me whenever I think about it. A lady, who had 2 children called to disclose that she was a victim of domestic violence and that it was getting worse. She told me that the perpetrator use to come home and look for her so he could take out his day’s frustration on her. When their children heard their father was coming back home they use to hide her in their bed, but he would still find her and carry out his actions. I can’t image what those children must have gone through! She managed to escape to her local council who put her in touch with us. She wanted to be move out of London and leave that relationship. Which type of cases are harder for you? The harder cases for me are when there are children involved. Either when they become victims, or are used as weapons to get revenge.
Most of the people think that women suffer violence just at the hands of their partners, what is your opinion about this? Domestic abuse can have many perpetrators, not just an intimidate partner. I have come across referrals who have endured many months or years of abuse from their parents, other family member’s, neighbours and others who hold a position of power. The Haven just works with woman and children. How do you help the men affected by domestic violence that call the helpline? We work in partnership with St Georges. When I get a referral from a male I liaise with them to see how we can support him. If he is a high risk referral our independent domestic violence advocacy would also support him. We know that “60,000 girls under 15 are at risk of FGM in the UK”. How do you think we can reduce this sad statistics? We have to raise FGM awareness. All front worker and agencies need to know what the sings are. We have to speak directly to girls at schools, teachers, nurses GP’s. We need to make people aware that it is a criminal offence, and you will be sent to prison as it is child abuse. What message would you send to people affected by domestic violence? My message would be: please do not suffer in silence. There is help out there for everyone. Our helpline is supported 24 hours a day. Sometimes just having someone to talk to, knowing that you are not alone facing the abuse, and you will realise there is light at the end of the ordeal.
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GET INVOLVED All of you, in one way or another, can make a difference supporting women and children affected by domestic abuse and homelessness. For further information about volunteering opportunities available do not hesitate do contact our Volunteer Engagement Lead: Marta.Rios@havenrefuge.org.uk
Sainsbury’s local We would like to thank Sainsbury's Interchange for organising such a fantastic family fun day on Saturday 17th December! We were delighted to be a part of their day and the activities they organised outside their store, in which the Wolverhampton Mayor was invited. They raised over £140 and lots of happy moments!
Corporate projects All year long different companies have remarkably helped us within corporate projects. In November, about 10 volunteers from Mondelez Chocolate Factory came to our refuges. They tidied and cleaned up the storage areas. In addition they gave chocolates and gifts to children and families in our refuges. Similarly, the association The Challenge helped to raise funds for the women and children affected by domestic violence. The Challenge’s youth volunteers were really supportive, and additionally they donated luxurious hampers. 5
Grand Gatsby On Saturday 3rd December, members of staff and volunteers wore their most fancy 20’s dress style to celebrate the Grand Gatsby Christmas Party. It was a splendid night of glam at the Grand station hotel. For each ticket sold, £5 was directly transferred to our charity association to supporting children and women. Moreover, during the subsequent two weekends our fundraising team, supported by several of our wonderful volunteers, sold raffle tickets and raise domestic violence awareness. Thanks to them all, we have raised a huge amount £2,848! Thank you everyone for continuing to give your support to The Haven Wolverhampton and taking part in our fundraising events.
Santa’s Grotto On Monday 19th December, volunteers from Jaguar-Land Rover Company picked up the children from Pearl refuge to visit Santa at the Old Tree Nursery, Pendeford. The lovely staff members received us, and mothers and children had the opportunity to created their own Christmas cards, find the elves in the garden and of course meet Santa Claus. It was a splendid day and everyone enjoyed it. We are very grateful to Jennafer Deeming and her husband to have proposed and organised this little trip, which made the children in our refuges very happy. 6
WOMEN OF OUR TIME
Light, Hope, and New beginnings By: Soraya Bravo. EVS Volunteer
In this winter issue we want to get inspired by women who have overcame fear and pain. Brave women from all over the world that have stood up in dignity to fight for those who can’t speak, those who represent “light, hope, and new beginThe same courage, dignity and hope that few days ago the European Parliament honoured conferring 2016 Sakharov Prize to Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar, Iraqi Yazidi activists and Islamic State survivors. This year Parliament’s Prize for Freedom of Thought recognise the impressive work of these two young women and their public advocacy for the Yazidi community in Iraq, a religious minority that has been the subject of a genocidal campaign by IS militants.
The annual prize, set up in 1988, is awarded to honour individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. Previously was given to the likes of Aung San Suu Kyi and Nelson Mandela. Nadia and Lamiya both from Kocho village in the northern Iraq’s region of Sinjar, were abducted with other Yazidi women on the 15th of August 2014, when their village was attacked by the Islamic State. In the speech given by Aji Bashar 9
during the award ceremony, she highlighted that the Sakharov Prize gave her great strength “and this is the reason why I have taken the decision to become a voice for the voiceless." And she added: “More than 3,500 children and women are still held hostage as slaves under DAESH. Every day they die a thousand times.” When DAESH attacked her village she was just 15 years old. “They killed all the men in the village, including my brother, my father, relatives, young and old. Then they took us to another place, and they separated us between older and younger women. They killed the older women and they divided the younger girls up, and we were then traded on the slave market”.
“DAESH and other global radical groups do not want anyone to have a life. They targeted all of those who stand against their ideology including millions of Muslims.” and called for the establishment of safe zones in the country for Yazidi and other minorities. This prize puts a spotlight on the Yazidis genocide. A massacre that had affected and affects more than half a million Yazidi faith adherents who live concentrated near the Syrian border in northern Iraq. Some of them are held in ISIS captivity, mostly women and children.
What motivates Nadia and Lamia to tell their story is to prevent it happening again. As The tree of hope in our cover page they want to inspire others to come forward and to know they have Murad, from her side emphasised that the right to raise their voices against injustice and brutality.
“With every step we get stronger, with every branch hope rises up. We can make it through anything together. No one is alone.” Priscilla Chana – Peer Mentor at The Haven.
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WHAT’S ON By: Sara Casas. EVS Volunteer
Last few months several things have been done in the refuges related with arts and crafts. In October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which intends to aware of the big issue that suppose Domestic Violence. At the Haven we built The tree of hope, composed by leaves with wishes and messages from Service Users, Volunteers and Peer Mentors that live and work in our refuges. The Tree is a representation of light, hope, and new beginnings. The pot is black to symbolize how the darkness consumes domestic abuse victims and how they feel they suffer in silence. The bark represents the victims struggle and acknowledges they are survivors of their experiences and the leaves are filled with wishes for their futures and are at the top of the tree where the light touches. Thanks to the hard work of two of our volunteers, Priscilla and Khatira, it was displayed on 25th November in the Art Gallery of Wolverhampton. 11
WHAT’S ON We started November celebrating a Mexican Halloween party. El dia de los muertos. Pearl refuge was full of little ghosts, skulls and vampires, and we were all fed with Mexican food.
During December at St Marks refuge a Christmas Fun & Arts evening was held. Volunteers, mums and children enjoyed painting wonderful canvases, making Christmas crafts, playing music and having a lovely dinner together.
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WHAT’SCase ON Study Volunteering Marcia started volunteering for The Haven 10 years ago. After a brake to have her daughter and support her husband business, she returned to run a programme called M.O.C.S.S (Mothers of Child Separation Support). “My intention was always to return as I have a passion and heart for women, children and their families.” In the past two years, she has been leading a community project with women involved in street based sex work. This experience, together with her career had helped her to develop her communication and managerial skills. Skills, that she is now reinforcing with this 6 week programme designed to support, encourage and help women who are separated or have experienced separation from their children. The MOCSS intend to develop alternative coping strategies from the devastating impact that being separated from their children has in mothers’ lives. As one of the workshop participants said “It is really hard, because your child could be either in care, being fostered, under a special guardianship order, been adopted or separated through any other circumstance” . Marcia wants to give a depth insight of understanding of the different professional services which mothers may be involved with, therefore she thought “it was important for me to lead group sessions along with staff and volunteers to give an efficient and professional service to service users”. MOCCS sessions consist of open discussions to share and explore different beneficial ways of understanding yourself, in order to move forward and make positive steps to help build a firm foundation for the future. The programme, which was very successful and whose next session will begin to run again in March, is an opportunity for mothers in the community and refuges to share their experiences, hear others the voices and realise that they are not alone. “This has been a great experience. I have enjoyed running the workshops, and I have met some wonderful women with whom I have built great relationships over the last few months. I am encouraged through the response to continue with more workshops. I have seen the benefits and the difference it has made to individuals and their lives. However, I would not have been able to do this without the support and co-operation of the service users and the Haven staff”. Volunteer Role: Peer Mentor 15
WHAT’S ON YOUR CORNER DISCOVER the artist from The Haven!
LEARN WITH US! Do you want to know more about Domestic abuse? Here you have some of our courses. For further information write: Rebecca.matthews@havenrefuge.org.uk
·FGM Awareness Thursday 23rd February 2017 ·Domestic Abuse Awareness Thursday 2nd March 2017 ·Domestic Homicide Reviews Thursday 16th March 2017 ·Equality and Diversity Tuesday 21st March 2017
LEARN ONLINE! Interested in starting something new? Try online:
Women in Leadership: Inspiring Positive Change! Developing yourself and others through coaching
Staying Positive in a Changing Environment
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