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Client 1: Mother, son age 9 and a daughter age 13. Husband, comes from a very violent home. The police informed us of his family history: His father was very violence, his sister killed him some years ago, mother also left the village and family because she was afraid for her own safety. Two other siblings of his left the country to get away from them. Her husband is in agreement to divorce his wife but he is a little to agreeable for my taste, and we are on our guard as to what he will do when he realizes she is really going to divorce him and take the kids. The 13 year old daughter, emotionally is responding like a 6 or 7 year old. She is very afraid and seems to be worried about loosing her mom. The 9 year old seems to be just going along with things and not showing any effects, yet I think his mother also has kept him in the dark as to what she is planning and what kind of papers she has been filling out with us.
Client 2: A return case from spring. Police in the spring came and took Mihaela to this village where she met with a woman severely beaten and the children terrified. Mihaela not only interviewed the woman, but also spoke with neighbors who all told her if she doesn't help this woman leave she would die at her husband's hands. Mihaela took her to a shelter with her 6 children, however, the oldest continued to run away so she finally returned home to her husband several weeks later. Last week the vice Mayor from a nearby community called us for this client. She was desparate and had run away again. We made sure she was in a safe place, and assured her we would contact her the next day with information as to how we could help her. The next morning however, the husband, from what we understand, threatened her and she went back home to him. We haven't had any contact with her since. We can not for her safety make a home visit, and we have no way of contacting her. We are waiting, hoping she or the police will contact us again soon.
Client 3: We recieved a call from the Train station in Medias about a young woman with a 2 year old son. She ran away from her husband from Iasi, which is several hours from us by train. She had been beaten and had been on the streets for at least a week. It took us all day to find her a place to stay and to get her the help she needed. Eventually we were able to get her into an over night emergency shelter and hand her over to another agency who could work with her and meet her needs.
Client 4: A young mother with her 7 month old son. We have known this girl from the days Mihaela worked at Veritas, and also she was one of our volunteers several years ago. She stopped by to talk to us and kept things on a very casual level. She seemed happy and seemed like everything was find. But three days later she came back and told us the real reason she had come. She left her husband about a month ago, because he hit her. We were very proud of her for not staying, for him to think he can control or treat her or any other woman in this manner. She is starting counseling with us and we are working on helping her find new living accommodations.
This year, due to a lack of funding, we decided not to go all out with this campaign.
Street Campaign:
We held a street campaign on Monday afternoon with two of the local police officers. We handed out our brochure as well as several pamplets that help people understand what Violence against women is and how prevelant it is in Romania. In 2008 first 9months we have already seen a 25% increase in Reported violence against Women compared to the full 12-months of 2007. To read the entire article
Village Campaign Hetuir:
We have had contact with a school in Hetuir for the last few months, helping some of the parents in this school to register their children with proper papers. Example: birth certificates, parents needing Identification cards, and registering children that were born, but parents failed to register them after they were born. Anyway, because of this collaboration they called a special parents meeting for us to have our presentation about Domestic Violence and inform them where they can get help, inform them of the laws against spousal abuse and also to help them understand the effects that violence in the home has on their children. Along with this we also gave to each family a clothing and house holds package (over 160 packages we gave out that evening). This presentation was really interesting and extremely inlightening. Many of the women and even some of the men were interactive with us during our presentation and seemed very interested in what we were sharing. After the meeting while our volunteers and Mihaela were handing out packages with the teachers, Ioana and I visited with various families. We had several come to us and tell us they didn't know that there were laws to protect them. Others came and asked us if their husband starts to beat them again who should they call first, BERACA or the police. Mostly because they found that the police didn't do anything nor were the women ever informed of other agencies that were available to provide services to them and their families.
Local High School Program:
Well next week is our last week of our Domestic Violence Healthy and UnHealthy Relationships Program in a local High School. The program seems to be a success we will know in about two weeks after we do our final evaluation. The teens are participating with regular attendence which in itself is a sign of success in holding their attention and interest. The 11th graders actually invited us to their Ball for 9th graders about two weeks ago however, none of us could attend for various reasons but it was nice of them to invite us. If the final evaluation goes over we will be invited back next semester to teach 6 more classes. We still haven't been able to obtain the School Inspector's approval for our program however, a colleague from another foundation who really likes us and believes our program should be in the schools is good friends with the Inspector and she is going to try to get her to sign our collaboration and give us the approvals we have been seeking for almost 2 years now.
Biou Village one of our most Violent Villages in which we had to take a break from and I mentioned in my last newsletter that several of the Teens in September had showed interest in us returning to Biou. Well last night Cosmin came to church here in Sighisoara and he came and asked for prayer. He has been having terrifing dreams and living in constant fear. We had a guest speaker who also has a healing ministry. Cosmin asked for prayer. I asked him out right if he still has issues with Anger and Violent outbursts. He said yes, he was so afraid last night, you could see the terror and the desparation to be set free from the torment in his spirit and mind. We prayed for him and he asked God for forgiveness and also forgave all those who have hurt him in his past to present. He also, recognized his violence and asked God for delieverance. He wants to come back to us for conseling and spiritual development. We wait with Joy for him to come to our door. He makes this step and I know God will move in mighty ways in his life.
I have so much to write about and don't even feel like I have enough time or energy. If you have questions about anything please let me know and I'll try to update you in a timely manner.
Financially we are still struggling but God is always faithful. We are currently in collaboration with another agency on a joint project which will bring in some funding but won't take place until late Spring if all goes well and they receive the Grant they are seeking for their project inwhich we will be offering our services to them. We will be offering Social Work and Counseling Services to 25 Gyspie Teenagers in the area of Self Development.
Merry Christmas and May the Lord fill this Christmas with Abundant Joy for the Birth of our Savior that will out shine all the Holiday clamour and stresses and shine through HIS PEACE.