News
A news bulletin for april 2006
Facts and figures for the month of April
In April 50 clients called the crisis hotline in search for information and assistance. Many of these clients were victims of current violence. The calls were made mostly during the day and less so at night.
Help and assistance are sought mostly by the victims themselves. Many of the calls are also made by family members, as well as by professionals, who are working on some case of domestic violence.
In April more and more often a family member calls the hotline, which is an indicator for the dimensions of the problem with domestic violence and for the growing public attention and awareness that this problem receives.
In April, as in previous months, a great number of our clients have been informed about our activities by police officers, less by the printed media or participation in different media programs. Relatively small is the number of clients who have been sent to us by other different institutions, non-governmental organizations, former clients, acquaintances, or calling centers.
In April, like in previous months, many of the clients are directed to the crisis unit by police officers, which indicates the effective partnership with the police. Due to the already launched action for popularizing the crisis hotline, the number of the clients who have heard about the hotline from the media has grown. A significant part of the clients have been directed by the institutions in Plovdiv which is an indicator for the good quality of our social services.
In April 20 clients were a target of urgent psycho-social intervention. The counselors from the crisis unit carried out 27 sessions in total with these clients.
Five women and four children sought shelter in the crises unit after experiencing and act of violence.
A STORY
Kalina and her son were given a shelter in the crisis unit. She had run away from her husband after an incident, threatening her life. She and her son reached the unit hitch-hiking, so that they can run as far away from her home town as possible. The town was situated on the coast. Kalina has four children. At the time of the escape, her oldest son left with her.
Kalina was a victim of physical and sexual violence by her partner. She was in a crisis because of the experienced violence and she needed a long time to recover. The child was also a victim of physical and psychological violence by his father. During her stay in the crisis unit Kalina attended sessions with a counselor, working in the unit. Thanks to these sessions and the social work provided to assist her, Kalina managed to recover and found strength to let herself out of the cycle of violence she was in. A signal was sent about the risk for her other three children living with the father.
Trainings
1. Following an invitation by the air force division in Graf Ignatievo, Diva Foundation carried out a training of the female staff members. Present were 60 army members, who shared their problems and stressed upon the difficulties in working with mainly male colleagues and about the specifics of the army. We are especially thankful to the army commander and the psychologist who were willing to carry out mutual trainings and who organized the workshop.
2. A two-hour prevention lecture on Human Trafficking and school aggression was carried out in “Todor Kableshkov” School in Proslav, in collaboration with the vise director of the Second Regional Police Department.
CHARITY
We want to thank Ms. Ralitsa Dushkova, who supported the crisis unit by giving clothes and baby food. A family in Plovdiv made a big charity contribution by giving kitchen utensils, bedroom sheets, children’s- and baby clothes, toys and the amount of 400 BGL. The family’s wish is to stay anonymous
We are sending another appeal towards companies and manufacturers, empathetic with our activity, and we kindly ask them to support our work and especially the women and children, accommodated in the Crisis Unit, by giving them food and other products of first need.
We will be more than happy if you respond to our appeal!!!
Contact information:
Tel: +359 32 64 10 69
E-mail: crisis_unit@abv.bg