Sankofa Foundation, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago 2010
  • Welcome
  • The Prayer
  • Objectives
  • Life-Giving Blog
  • FAQs
  • Contact

CHRISTMAS GRACES AND BLESSING FOR THE NEW YEAR

12/21/2010

0 Comments

 

Whether this festival is authentic or not, a debate that may never end, a significant number of people can hold that it seems to foster a spirit of giving. While some may use the season to exploit many other people can attest to the feeling of joy the season has brought to their heart, even if it is just to savoir the feelings of receiving and celebrate the sense of fulfilment when a gift is given and faces light up.

However, at this time of giving and receiving gifts and joy, domestic violence is still holding some people in its ugly jaw. Many perpetrators are inflicting mental and physical pain relentlessly. There are many victims whose wish is simply to let their nightmares stop.

There is a saying, “get down on your knees and pray and after get up off the floor and start to answer the prayer yourself.”  At first glance one might believe that this means there is no God or Creator. On the contrary this phrase suggests more powerfully that God is within the human person in that same powerful way. This also suggests that each person perpetrator and victim are thus empowered to change their reality for the better.  If one holds that God is in each person then one also has to hold that every person is called to act via God’s grace to help a brother or sister get up off the ground and start addressing the issues.

Human support and love goes a long way to empower another to journey towards the life giving way. This Christmas season let us as a human family come to the aid, in our capacity to help, those who are crying out for help. Maybe that person who feel that things are getting out of hand and fear that they might act wrongly, have sort our help in the past. Maybe they may seek our help again. Be sensitive and wise. Be empathetic.  One phone number one can keep at hand is the ‘800-SAVE’. Many times one may feel powerless as to how they can help.

Both victims and perpetrators come from our homes, our communities. The response we give to either groups of persons can either contribute to negative or positive change. Perhaps if someone knows of a person who is struggling with being a perpetrator or victim of domestic violence, buy a book for them or sponsor professional help for them.

Some persons may reject the help but who knows one person, just one person may act positively to your outreach towards them. Let us not gossip about the violent cries roaming the air all through the year in our communities. Let us try to help in the ways we know we can.

Let us end domestic violence in our human reality. God bless and have a holy and life-giving Christmas season and a new dawn for years to come.

Receive the Christmas Blessings.

Sankofa M F O Tuzinde 21th December 2010

 

 
0 Comments

SOME MEN ARE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TOO

12/11/2010

0 Comments

 

Permit the indulgence of this blog to open with a question. When we hear the phrase, ‘domestic violence’ do we think or believe that this is inclusive of males too? In resent time there is a greater awareness that some men experience abuse too. More of these abused men are speaking out. Though the exact numbers are not know for many reason such as stigmas which prevent a man from making a report or seeking help from even close friends and other family members. Should these men be offered help? Certainly, any person male or female in a predicament of any kind should be given help.

Men and women, boys and girls who find themselves in disturbing domestic situations and domestic violence ought to seek help. At every cost help should be given. One suggestion to assist men who are victims of domestic violence is to begin to break down the sigma walls. The greatest way to begin this process is through men being kind to men in their conversations such as heckling. Men need to talk supportively to other men. Men need to create a safe space for men to talk without fear of being heckled. The agencies available to help in these kinds of situations have to be trained to deal with domestic violence.

The police service would need to go through a branch of training to help them deal with domestic situation both in their own situations and in the situations that may come to them by way of reports in their police stations.

Some men are abused to, so along with addressing the abuse of women, efforts have to be directed to helping men as well. For now let us pledge to be more empathetic, let us help our men who are victims of domestic abuse. Let us pledge to be balance in our efforts to address domestic violence holistically.

Whose in?

0 Comments

    Author

    Sankofa M F O Tuzinde is an educator and motivational speaker/counselor.   He has a passion for helping people improve their lives. 
    Currently, Sankofa is completing his Master's Degree in Gender and Development Studies at UWI St. Augustine.   Sankofa holds a BA in Theology from UWI. He is passionate about helping women and girls trapped in domestic violence.  Sankofa's research looks at the links between the use of exclusive language and domenstic violence.  At present, Sankofa tutors the courses "Men and Masculinities" and Sex, Gender and Society at UWI.

    Archives

    June 2016
    March 2016
    July 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    March 2014
    November 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    March 2012
    November 2011
    October 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    December 1969

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.