Mission

Non-Profit, 501(c)(3)

Mission: The Dragonfly Centre is committed to the elimination of domestic violence against women and their children by providing victim friendly services that promotes the empowerment of survivors; through advocacy, public awareness and education and community based initiatives.

Vision: The Dragonfly Centre envisions a world free of violence against women and their children and social justice for all. We are founded on the vision and belief that every person has the right to live in a safe environment free from violence and the fear of violence and strive to work collaboratively with the community to provide victim friendly services to support domestic violence victims, survivors to the stage of thriving.

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Friday, February 15, 2013

Children are Impacted by Domestic Violence

Children seeing ‘ghost’ of dead mom

Published: Friday, February 15, 2013

Radhica Sookraj

PHOTO: KRISTIAN DE SILVA

Visions of their dead mother continue to haunt Nicholas and Nicolette Rampersad, days after they witnessed a relative strangle her with his bare hands at their Penal home. The children, aged eight and nine, respectively, are in desperate need of psychological counselling as they are “seeing the ghost” of Stella Rampersad, 30, walking about their Moolchand Trace, Penal Rock Road, home.

They have been unable to eat or sleep since Rampersad was beaten and strangled around 6 pm on Friday. Their six-week-old baby step-sister Rianna Thakur was left lying in her crib when the woman was murdered. During an interview yesterday, the children’s grandmother Latchmin Rajpat, 60, said she was worried about her grandchildren who are yet to receive counselling. “The police told me that they will get counselling after the funeral but these children suffering so much,” Rajpat said. So deep is the children’s trauma that they are afraid to be by themselves.

“If I have to go by the bathroom, they following me and waiting outside the door. They telling me that they scared,” Rajpat said. “He (Nicholas) tells me that mummy is standing there cleaning the house. He sees her sweeping, opening the toilet and washing his clothes.” Rajpat said the children have become withdrawn and were crying incessantly. They have also started showing “animosity” towards the six-week-old baby, Rajpat said. “I heard them telling the little baby that their mother may have died but they still had their father and that Rianna’s (relative) killed their mother,” Rajpat said.

She noted that Rampersad started seeing the suspect secretly two years ago. She then left Nicholas and Nicolette and went to live with him at Debe. However, she never knew her daughter was being abused. Six months ago the couple moved back to Moolchand Trace. “I know they used to quarrel a lot but I did not think it would come to this,” Rajpat said. She explained that it will be difficult to care for Rianna but she was determined to do so. She expressed gratitude to Nicolette and Nicholas’ father Russel Rampersad who assists in caring for them.

Rampersad’s funeral is expected to take place today from 9 am. A 30-year-old Guyanese national is expected to be charged with her murder.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2013-02-15/children-seeing-%E2%80%98ghost%E2%80%99-dead-mom

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A Little Background…..

In 2007 I was introduced to the twin island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is a beautiful tropical country located in the southern most part of the Caribbean archipelago. However, the opportunity to travel to this part of the world would not present itself until March of 2009. It was an incredible experience to be able to visit a country where I had never been before and I literally knew no-one. I had the privilege to experience a new culture and meet many wonderful people who made my trip an amazing experience. Although the purpose of my visit was recreational, something happened that changed all of that. One evening while on a hike with my tour guide and one of the locals at The ASA Wright Nature Centre, one of the men asked me where I was from and what I did for a living. It was at that moment that I disclosed that I was a Domestic Violence Advocate. He paused, looked at me and replied,… “we need you here”. At that moment I did not fully understand what he meant or how I could help.

A few days after this I visited one of the local court houses to learn about how someone could obtain a protection order. What I discovered disturbed me greatly, to say the least. The process by which abused individuals could obtain legal protections left much to be desired. This sparked grave concern for victims coupled with a desire to learn more about the local system and services. After I finished my travels all I could think about was the need of the people in Trinidad and Tobago. It was shortly after my return to the United States that the Dragonfly Centre for Women’s Empowerment and Transformation began to take form. While completing my Bachelors degree at Evergreen College, I developed an Individual Learning Contract entitled “Domestic Violence in Trinidad and Tobago” and was awarded The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. This allowed me to return to Trinidad and Tobago for my final quarter at the end of December of 2009 for my nine week study. My focus was on services addressing domestic violence. What I came away with was the echoing cries for help by the people who freely shared their personal views and stories. Although I wasn’t quite sure what, I knew I had to do something. As a consequence, it was these cries that gave birth to and helped shape the Dragonfly Centre to be what it is, a multifaceted institution with a focus on public education, shaping public policy and providing direct victim friendly services to support families dealing with domestic violence.