The Letter
This is a letter I wrote for the abused women's group I attend. The letter is intented for the government officials who are in charge of funding decisions. each year the program is in jeoperdy of being cut because of funding cut-backs. I hope this helps even a little bit. The name of the women are changed to protect their identities.
Seven women walk into a room each feeling the same thing; depression, sadness, alone, anger, hopeless and nervous, to name a few. We nervously look at each other and realize that we’re not alone in our feelings. Our facilitator, Vivienne Kendry is there to greet us with a warm smile and bubbly attitude. Later we are to learn that Vivienne was once like us, and that there is hope and our futures are ours – a future without violence.
Each Tuesday and Thursday we gather in our little room to listen and talk about how the violent past we’ve left can affect not only our future but the futures of our children, but only if we let it. Each week that passes every woman in our group opens up a little more and in doing so gains not only confidence, but also ability to more forward. Little by little we take back what was taken from us without our permission.
Rose, a young beautiful woman with two children who was still in love with her abuser before starting the E.S.S. program, can now look beyond her abuser’s charming smile and see the demon within him. She now has the confidence to understand that even though he promises change, he will never change his abusive ways. Before starting E.S.S., Rose didn’t have the confidence to do the every day things that others take for granted such as banking, grocery shopping and making an appointment with a Doctor. Like a hatched chic, Rose continues to find strength and confidence every day. She has not only broken the cycle of violence, she has the tools to recognize the signs of it for the future.
Mary is a single mom of a pre-teen daughter. Once a successful businesswoman, she lost all of her confidence and much of her coping strategies because of the effects of abuse. She no longer thinks that she may not have been abused because now she knows the different forms that abuse takes. By coming to E.S.S., Mary has the ability to move forward in her once stalled career. Her daughter doesn’t have to grow up thinking that what her mom and dad had was a “normal” relationship. Because of the E.S.S. program, Mary has the ability to recognize that not every day is going to be perfect, but she no longer has anyone to choose what her emotions should be except herself. She has the right to be angry, but from that anger comes power and knowledge, the power and knowledge for her and her daughter to live a life abuse-free.
The mother of two infant children, Bella now realizes that she has her whole life ahead of her for her choosing. Where once there was anger, there is now hope. Where once there was depression, there is now the ability to be happy. Like many abused women, Daisy had a lot of self-doubt. Because of the help she received through attending the E.S.S. program she now has the confidence to return to school and pursue a career in Nursing.
After leaving a relationship that some are surprised she survived, Gail became the single mother to three small children. Having been left with feelings of fear, depression, anxiety and worthlessness Gail could have returned to the only life she knew – a life full of beatings, name calling, and the threats and abuse against her children. Beating all the odds, Gail now provides a safe warm home for her children free from abuse. Because of the E.S.S. program Gail can now understand the effects that abuse has had on her and her children and has access to programs for them that she would never have know about. Because of the E.S.S. program Gail says that she is no longer a victim of abuse, but a survivor.
Evelyn and her son’s flee from abuse was like something you would see in a movie or read in a book. She and her son escaped through a second floor window in the middle of the night and drove over 3000 km to escape their abuser. Left feeling severely depressed and with no self-confidence, she came to the E.S.S. program not knowing what to expect or what she would get from the group. She has since been able to draw the links from an abusive childhood to how she would be drawn to partners who abuse. She now has regained the spark in her personality that was taken from her. She now knows that abuse comes in different forms other than physical. Where once Evelyn had difficulty seeing tomorrow, E.S.S. has helped her realize she is worthy of living a life abuse-free and has definite school and career goals.
Carol has beat odds with a super-human like ability. Before starting the E.S.S. program Carol felt low self-esteem, fear, frustration and exhaustion. Being a single mom to five children and teens, instead of giving up and returning to her abuser, she has instead chosen to attend E.S.S. to soak up the information provided and incorporate it into her every day life. Carol now says she has the confidence she lost back, and the ability to move forward with school or a career of her choosing.
All of is in the E.S.S. program can say without hesitation that it has changed our lives and our futures. The information we received was abundant and delivered by Vivienne in a way that was not overwhelming. If asked if we would recommend the E.S.S. program to others, we would all say, “Yes, without a doubt”. We all felt like we were cared about and treated with equality that some of us had never received before. We can now walk with our heads held high with confidence. When we started our group the smiles and laughs were far and few between, now you can hear them resonating off the walls of our little room. Because of the E.S.S. program and Vivienne, we know now what healthy relationships are and that we are all worthy of having one. The program teachings will carry forward not only in our lives but also to the lives of our children.
Seven women walk into a room each feeling the same thing; depression, sadness, alone, anger, hopeless and nervous, to name a few. We nervously look at each other and realize that we’re not alone in our feelings. Our facilitator, Vivienne Kendry is there to greet us with a warm smile and bubbly attitude. Later we are to learn that Vivienne was once like us, and that there is hope and our futures are ours – a future without violence.
Each Tuesday and Thursday we gather in our little room to listen and talk about how the violent past we’ve left can affect not only our future but the futures of our children, but only if we let it. Each week that passes every woman in our group opens up a little more and in doing so gains not only confidence, but also ability to more forward. Little by little we take back what was taken from us without our permission.
Rose, a young beautiful woman with two children who was still in love with her abuser before starting the E.S.S. program, can now look beyond her abuser’s charming smile and see the demon within him. She now has the confidence to understand that even though he promises change, he will never change his abusive ways. Before starting E.S.S., Rose didn’t have the confidence to do the every day things that others take for granted such as banking, grocery shopping and making an appointment with a Doctor. Like a hatched chic, Rose continues to find strength and confidence every day. She has not only broken the cycle of violence, she has the tools to recognize the signs of it for the future.
Mary is a single mom of a pre-teen daughter. Once a successful businesswoman, she lost all of her confidence and much of her coping strategies because of the effects of abuse. She no longer thinks that she may not have been abused because now she knows the different forms that abuse takes. By coming to E.S.S., Mary has the ability to move forward in her once stalled career. Her daughter doesn’t have to grow up thinking that what her mom and dad had was a “normal” relationship. Because of the E.S.S. program, Mary has the ability to recognize that not every day is going to be perfect, but she no longer has anyone to choose what her emotions should be except herself. She has the right to be angry, but from that anger comes power and knowledge, the power and knowledge for her and her daughter to live a life abuse-free.
The mother of two infant children, Bella now realizes that she has her whole life ahead of her for her choosing. Where once there was anger, there is now hope. Where once there was depression, there is now the ability to be happy. Like many abused women, Daisy had a lot of self-doubt. Because of the help she received through attending the E.S.S. program she now has the confidence to return to school and pursue a career in Nursing.
After leaving a relationship that some are surprised she survived, Gail became the single mother to three small children. Having been left with feelings of fear, depression, anxiety and worthlessness Gail could have returned to the only life she knew – a life full of beatings, name calling, and the threats and abuse against her children. Beating all the odds, Gail now provides a safe warm home for her children free from abuse. Because of the E.S.S. program Gail can now understand the effects that abuse has had on her and her children and has access to programs for them that she would never have know about. Because of the E.S.S. program Gail says that she is no longer a victim of abuse, but a survivor.
Evelyn and her son’s flee from abuse was like something you would see in a movie or read in a book. She and her son escaped through a second floor window in the middle of the night and drove over 3000 km to escape their abuser. Left feeling severely depressed and with no self-confidence, she came to the E.S.S. program not knowing what to expect or what she would get from the group. She has since been able to draw the links from an abusive childhood to how she would be drawn to partners who abuse. She now has regained the spark in her personality that was taken from her. She now knows that abuse comes in different forms other than physical. Where once Evelyn had difficulty seeing tomorrow, E.S.S. has helped her realize she is worthy of living a life abuse-free and has definite school and career goals.
Carol has beat odds with a super-human like ability. Before starting the E.S.S. program Carol felt low self-esteem, fear, frustration and exhaustion. Being a single mom to five children and teens, instead of giving up and returning to her abuser, she has instead chosen to attend E.S.S. to soak up the information provided and incorporate it into her every day life. Carol now says she has the confidence she lost back, and the ability to move forward with school or a career of her choosing.
All of is in the E.S.S. program can say without hesitation that it has changed our lives and our futures. The information we received was abundant and delivered by Vivienne in a way that was not overwhelming. If asked if we would recommend the E.S.S. program to others, we would all say, “Yes, without a doubt”. We all felt like we were cared about and treated with equality that some of us had never received before. We can now walk with our heads held high with confidence. When we started our group the smiles and laughs were far and few between, now you can hear them resonating off the walls of our little room. Because of the E.S.S. program and Vivienne, we know now what healthy relationships are and that we are all worthy of having one. The program teachings will carry forward not only in our lives but also to the lives of our children.
posted by Amethyst Girl at 7:24 PM
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