The Caribbean Voice (TCV) is seeking to mitigate the growing rate of domestic violence with campaigns throughout each administrative region in Guyana while providing community counsellors for long-term assistance.
This was shared on Wednesday by Managing Director Bibi Ahamad as she highlighted the many activities that are lined up to spread awareness on domestic violence and suicide prevention. On September 10 the organisation will host its annual candlelight vigil.
“Over the years, the Caribbean Voice along with a number of NGOs and faith-based organisations have been doing awareness on suicide prevention on World Suicide Prevention Day. We’re hoping this year that we would be able to do it on a larger scale throughout the country. The intent is for the community itself to be able to deal with its social ills to a lesser extent,” she explained.
The goal of these vigils is to involve all groups of persons within communities and reach out to those that need support. Persons from the community are trained to detect violence in its early stages before it becomes fatal. Ahamad recalled that over 400 persons were assisted in the past with mental illness, abuse and suicide.
Meanwhile, for the domestic abuse campaign, activities will be extended to other Caribbean territories.
“We have helped an excess of 400 persons. Most of them are still a work in progress because, for counselling someone, it does not happen one or two times. It’s an ongoing process. Every one of us volunteer. Here in Guyana, we have three trained psychologists and a batch of online counsellors so we network to help people.”
This year’s CSEC student, Davindra Bridgemohan, who would have performed exceptionally despite being diagnosed with cerebral palsy, is their newest member. He has been appealing to youths about the importance of their lives in society and introducing ways to combat suicidal thoughts.
“God gave us this precious life as a gift and we should appreciate it. The moment you are ready to quit is usually right before the moment a miracle can happen. The World Health Organisation estimates that approximately one million people die each year from suicide. Suicide does not end the chances of life getting worse, it eliminates the possibility of it getting any better,” Bridgemohan said.
The fast-food franchise, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), has partnered with the organisation in their quest to eliminate suicide and all forms of domestic violence. Training Manager of the establishment, Charissa Rampersaud expressed, “Even if one life is saved through our small token in this massive undertaking, then we could have accomplished something”.
