TelEm Group is joining forces with the Safe Haven Foundation during the month of November to help stamp out domestic violence in the St. Maarten community.
According to the women’s shelter, Safe Haven, there has been a spike in the number of calls from women seeking refuge for urgent assistance since the passage of Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria in September as a result of violence in their home.
Unfortunately, due to limited resources, Safe Haven has only been able to help a limited number of these women in need and has had to turn a number of them away or refer them to other places where they might get help.
The foundation has now decided to deal with the problem at its source – by addressing the persons in the community who cause violence against women and girls by mounting an awareness and prevention campaign with community partner such as TelEm Group.
Safe Haven Director, Cassandra Richardson, says it is heartbreaking for her when any woman calls the women’s shelter asking for help and none can be given.
“With the full support of our Board and sponsors such as TelEm Group we want the entire community to know what is going on out there and what they can do to help the situation,” said Cassandra during a brief meeting with TelEm Group Manager, Marketing & Sales, Grisha Heyliger-Marten to plan activities for the month.
“Both plan to distribute literature about domestic violence and also to take part in International Women’s Day events on March 8th and also in the United Nations-sanctioned Prevention of Violence Against Women & Girls on November 25th.
“We are planning to do some radio talk shows and also have weekly ads with tips and SMS in the media to focus attention on domestic violence to see if we can provide answers to why there has been such a sharp increase in domestic violence since the passing of these two hurricanes,” said Cassandra, who is aware of all the stresses that the devastating storm has had on families and relationships generally.
“As a caring corporate citizen we wholeheartedly stand behind Safe Haven in their awareness and prevention campaign for the month of November,” said the TelEm Group representatives, Ms. Marten.
Cassandra says one of the highlights of the month is expected to be a fundraising walk to raise funds for the group and also to focus awareness to the St. Maarten community.
Details and times of the walk is expected to be announced at a later date, meantime, Ms. Marten is encouraging everyone to get on board with the campaign and assist the group in any way they can in their efforts to protect women and girls in our community from harm.