Nashauna Drummond, Staff Reporter
HEWITT
REACHING 21 is a significant milestone in any organisation. Twenty one years ago, someone seized the vision to start what has become the leading women's magazine in Jamaica. - Flair Magazine.
Today, Flair Magazine and a leading women's organisation Woman Inc... have collaborated to celebrate the magazine's 21st anniversary. During the next 12 months, Flair will 'adopt' Woman Inc. in order to highlight their plight and show the nation, once again, that they continue to provide a worthwhile service for our battered sisters.
We hope that through the tangible initiatives that will require your input and the stories that we will tell, we will further our ability to better serve Jamaican women.
We thank our millions of readers who have been faithful with comments and critique over the years and our valuable advertisers without whose support, we would not have made it.
The Woman Inc. Story.
WOMAN INC... provides assistance to women who have been victims of various forms of abuse. These include; rape, incest, domestic violence and sexual harassment at the work place. Their objective is to promote the welfare of women through the maintenance of a Crisis Centre and a Crisis Shelter.
However, after 21 years, the physical structure of this Non -Governmental Organisation (NGO), located at 7 Denehurst Avenue in Kingston has deteriorated. Public Education/Legal Reform Coordinator, Joyce Hewitt notes that whenever it rains the roof leaks, and there are gaping holes most of which resulted from Hurricane Ivan's wrath. The physical structure is also under attack from termites; the building could use a fresh coat of paint and some of the walls are also in need of repair.
Even everyday supplies of stationary and office equipment such as scanners and a photocopying machine are not present at this organisation. Woman Inc. also operates a shelter for victims of domestic violence who have to be immediately evacuated from such situations. Unfortunately, there are limitations as this facility only has the capacity to house a maximum of 11 persons.
FUNDING
Woman Inc's major fund-raising event is the annual Trade Fair and Expo, but it had to be cancelled for 2005. This has left a gaping hole in an already meagre budget. Ms. Hewitt noted that it would take a sponsorship of at least $1 million to stage this event, which could turn a profit of $2-2.5 million.
She further highlighted the fact that through generous donations from a few corporate entities such as GraceKennedy Remittance Services (GKRS), they have been able to keep their heads above water. However, in 2006, GKRS's second three-year commitment to paying the salary of their secretary will come to an end.
The shelter costs approximately $1 1/2 million to operate annually. They have only survived because of the generosity of the corporate donors such as Food For The Poor and Jamaica Broilers. Recently they also benefited from a donation of toiletries from the New Kingston Kiwanis Club as well as a cash donation from Juci Beef.
To date, these have been their only corporate partners and Ms. Hewitt thinks much more support could be given by corporate Jamaica.
"They could adopt a counsellor and pay her salary, etc. She notes that in turn, Woman Inc. could provide workshops, seminars and training for the donor's staff."
Ms. Hewitt notes, "If women are hurting, the nation is hurting. We serve Jamaica and these corporations are usually affected by the domestic violence. The results are low/no productivity, workers' absence and a strain on the health sector when abused women have to be treated at hospitals. This causes a drain on the country's resources. However we may not realise it immediately because it's not tangible." Woman Inc. also conducts training programmes in schools through seminars and workshops and also training with members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) on domestic violence intervention.
GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION
Government's annual subvention of $1 million to Woman Inc. has been reduced to $1/4 million and this has greatly affected how effectively the organisation is able to function.
Ms. Hewitt noted that, based on the Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the 1995 Beijing platform Government is committed to providing a shelter (for women) in every parish. To date none has been established.
Each year the organisation deals with several hundred women who come directly to utilise the facility. The 24-hour crisis hotline deals with over 2,000 women annually. The toll-free component of this programme is also in danger of being discontinued due to the exorbitant cost it accumulates.
