Proposal to the Government of Malta for Europe's First Rehabilitation Centre for Women and Child

THE BIGGER PICTURE

What would it look like to have a working society, where women were counted as equals alongside men and living a life free from violence?

As a community it is our collective responsibility to ensure we are doing everything in our power to achieve safer communities for our children and our children’s children. Gone are the days where it was once acceptable to turn a blind eye to abuse. We need to make it our business to report any incidents of violence against women to police, that you may witness as a result of living in the area or perhaps you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time because it could be your daughter next.

Women are dying from this epidemic because good people in small communities like ours are doing nothing!

I mean what’s it take to pick up the phone and dial 112 as an anonymous person to help someone in need, to help a women who is being violated and abused and next time, possibly killed?

I want you to strongly consider what sort of a community you want your children to grow up in; and for all those who have daughters who one day will leave your care, I want to think how you would feel if the police came knocking on your door one day to gave you the news about how she died in a violent attack behind closed doors, because no one picked up the phone when she was crying out for help?

Even if it’s not your daughter, it’s still your problem if you do nothing!

http://www.slideshare.net/AnneAgiusGelicrisio/proposal-mr-muscat-trentesta-final-edited001

‘T R E N T E S T A’

A Proposal for Europe’s First Rehabilitation Centre for Women and Children of Domestic Violence

(...because to Violence Against Women Malta, Let’s Say NO MORE!)

Contact Person: Anne Agius (Gelicrisio)

Professional Title: Director of Business Management (and Home Affairs)

Email (Primary): voicebohx@gmail.com

Email (Secondary): ag12@y7mail.com

Website (1): http://voiceohx.wix.com/anne

Website (2): http://voicebohx.wix.com/campaign-night

Linked-in Profile: https://au.linkedin.com/in/anneagius

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VoiceBohx

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anna.agius.144

Tumbler: http://clearcreationkitten.tumblr.com/

Branded: http://anne-agius-gelicrisio.branded.me/

Other: http://cougarclub33.wix.com/courgar-club

CONTENTS: (Page 2)

Contact Information Page 1

1.00 Objective

1.10 Mission Statement

1.20 Domestic Violence Defined

1.30 The Cycle of Abuse

1.40 Breaking the Cycle

2.10 Executive Summary

3.10 Education

3.20 Background Information and Justification

3.30 Domestic Violence in Adulthood

Incidents – 3.34; 3.33; 3.32; 3.31

4.10 Melanie’s Story – 1999

4.20 The Church Speech

4.30 The Girl Next Door

5.10 Legal Exposure

5.20 Human Rights and Domestic Violence

6.10 Shelter Services in Malta

6.20 Surviving Domestic Violence in Malta

7.10 Resources Required…

7.20 Suggested Premises…

7.30 Estimated Yearly Budget…

8.10 Monitoring and Evaluation

8.20 Reporting

8.30 Time Frame

9.10 The Bigger Picture

10.10 References

11.10 Credits

...

1.00 OBJECTIVE:

To transform gender power inequalities, promote safer families and respectful relationships – for the prevention of violence against women and their children.

1.10 MISSION STATMENT:

Giving survivors of Domestic Violence a voice, protection of life and the right to safety; taking measures to build up the women (and children) affected and increase the possibility for control over their own lives.

We can never let reference to traditions, culture or histories legitimize violence against women.

1.20 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DEFINED

Physical Violence:

Physical violence ranges from ‘just a slap in the face’ to sexual abuse all the way to manslaughter, attempted murder and murder. It includes any form of abuse, such as pushing, kicking, pulling hair, burning and wounding with weapons. This may cause injuries such as bruises, contusions, lacerations, teeth knocked out, fractures or cuts. Injuries due to the abuse are often found on the head, neck, throat, breast and lower abdominal regions women who are being abused by violent partners also during pregnancy, may result in complications or miscarriage.

Psychological Violence:

Isolation from friends, family and other supportive social networks
Threats, bullying and intimidation
Harassment, persecution, terror and stalking
Insults, humiliation, defamation
Economic violence, abuse of dependency situations
Damage to property, cruelty to pets

Sexual Violence:

A term which encompasses a wide variety of abuses, including rape, sexual threats, exploitation, humiliation, assaults, molestation, domestic violence, incest, involuntary prostitution (sexual bartering), torture, and attempted rape. Sexual abuse manifests itself in acts or threats of physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. This includes, but not limited to: attempted or committed rape, any forced and non-consensual sexual act, as well as sexual behaviour that the person on the receiving end finds humiliating and degrading.

1.30 The Cycle of Abuse

Abuse often escalates in frequency and intensity. It also follows a cyclic pattern, which can be confusing for the women on the receiving end and which eventually erodes self esteem and sense of personal power. The cycle begins with excuses, ends with abusive episodes, and is repetitive.

Excuses: after an abusive episode, the abuser and victim both “explain away” the problem. Honeymoon Period: things seem to be going very well. When things are “great” they are really “great” – gifts, apologies, positive feelings, etc. Routine: a return to routine life around the home and at work. Tension: tension begins to build and the abuser begins to show signs of irritability, anger, impatience, frustration, etc. The victim recognizes these signs and begins to feel a familiar need to “walk on eggshells”

Trigger: something sets off the abuser, often not easily identified or based in reality.

The victim’s self-esteem and confidence drops, and the pattern repeats itself.

1.40 Breaking the Cycle

Few people identify themselves as abusers or victims.

Many are silenced by shame, fear of retaliation from the abuser, or ignorance about domestic abuse. Abuse does not always show up as broken bones, cuts, scrapes. Abusers may minimize their behaviour or blame the victim for provoking them; when things are “going well” it may be easier to deny the abuse.

Furthermore:

Addressing and recognizing domestic violence is difficult and sensitive because of its consequences; breaking the silence on domestic violence may also dismantle the family as a unit.

To illustrate, rape within marriage was not punished as rape in Norway until 1974. In other countries rape within marriage became a crime only as late as the 1990s and some countries in Europe still do not recognize rape within marriage as a criminal offense.

The lives of women and children and the risks they face simply do not receive the same amount of attention in public life as those of men.

Effective protection against domestic violence also requires a proactive approach. The seriousness of domestic violence can only be fully grasped by taking into account the way in which domestic violence often affects the person on the receiving end, in terms of their security and freedom it affects all areas of her life and the long terms consequences of such violence.

The traditional incident-specific approach in criminal law can perhaps to some degree explain why the level of punishment has not, for example, been proportionate to the harm which domestic violence causes to the person on the receiving end of the abuse.

The special relationship between the offender and his partner, presents some dilemmas, which may have affected efforts to investigate and prosecute domestic violence.

Lacking knowledge of the magnitude and the harmful consequences of domestic violence may also partly account for the silence on domestic violence, this affects the way domestic violence is treated in all sectors of the community.

Although domestic violence is considered a crime in most legal systems, reporting levels are still low, the indifference by police and judicial authorities has still not entirely disappeared and the tendency to blame the women for not leaving or picking the wrong husband is still present.

This suggests for example that our understanding of ‘privacy’ still affects the way we speak about and priorities domestic violence.

It might be argued that a restraining order jeopardizes the offender’s right to privacy. This presumes, however, that we take for granted that the human rights of the offender include a right to visit someone whom this person has abused or threatened to abuse.

If we extend the rights of the offender this far it may very well be claimed that the human rights legitimise and excuse harm rather than protect individuals from harm.

The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has stated that the perpetrator’s rights cannot supersede the victim’s human right to life and to physical and mental integrity.

A restraining order combined with electronic monitoring of the aggressor’s movements, is one way of stopping an offender. What’s more important is the message it gives to the wider community; such measure is a question of attitudes within the police and prosecuting authority.

Breaking the silence on domestic violence presupposes that we rethink and challenge the meaning of old structures, distinctions and ideas which have contributed to shielding domestic violence from public attention – the family as a sacred unit, the private, the public, power and gender. We can never let reference to traditions, culture or histories legitimize violence against women.

2.10 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The 'Bring It On' Campaign was established to raise awareness for children and women in this country who are experiencing Domestic Violence and what's worse, suffering in silence.

Violence against women and specifically gender based violence is an extensive Human Rights Abuse that we can no longer afford to overlook; 42,000 women across 28 member states of the European Union were asked about their experiences of physical, sexual and psychological violence, including incidence of intimate partner violence. What emerges is a picture of extensive abuse that affects many women’s lives but is systematically under reported to authorities (a) in fear of not being believed and (b) in fear of not finding the help after reporting incidents of abuse; there is still a lack of awareness. Only 14% of women reported their most serious incident of intimate partner violence to the police...

It is important to keep in mind that the vast majority of cases, violence is perpetrated by men on women. It is all about ‘Power & Control’. Perpetrators use a variety of forms of intimidation and manipulation to prevent the women affected from reporting, gaining support, prosecuting and seeking help; for example, the perpetrator might tell her that she is an unfit mother, that she is crazy, paranoid and that no-body will believe her and should she choose to leave, she will lose everything. In Malta alone, the figures over the past four years have doubled, which is indicative of the accepted levels of violence against women; more needs to be done to break the vicious cycle of abuse. Ending the violence and turning to safe housing is just the first step, rehabilitation is what’s needed for the on-going prevention of violence against women, as domestic violence is an addiction like any other but not recognised to be one.

As a community, we can have faith that criminalising domestic violence and imposing punishments upon the offenders will encourage them to repent their wrong and therefore, deter and suppress future violations.

It is clear with the publication of these results, that the time is now ripe to address violence against women on the basis of the evidence supplied by the EU Wide Survey carried over 28 countries and with support of this government, I hope to turn information online to people in action, because to violence against women Malta, let’s Say NO MORE!

3.10 EDUCATION:

Diploma in Multimedia Graphic Design – Layout and Design: Melbourne School of Arts

Sports Accreditation Coaching Council Albert Park, Victoria

ACCC – Online with CBA In House, Victoria

Trade Practices Act – Online with CBA In House, Victoria

Security Compliance – Online with CBA In House, Victoria

Banking Code of conduct – Online with CBA In House, Victoria

Customer Service Specialist – Footscray TAFE Footscray, Victoria

Certificate III in Financial Services – Challenger TAFE Melbourne, Victoria

Certificate III in Social Work – Morley Learning Centre Perth, Western Australia

Diploma in Children’s Services – TAFE of N.S.W Sydney, New South Wales

In Summary:

I have several years of experience in a variety of fields including IT and finance and feel I can comfortably take on the role of a Director for the proposed rehabilitation centre, to better guarantee safety for women and children of domestic violence; my previous positions have been a great introduction to working with people and managing affairs. In addition to my extensive experience, I have strong communication, customer service, and administrative skills.

In demonstrating my integrity, my bank telling experience has made me comfortable handling cash (including large sums), checks, debit and credit cards and am also able to make sure payments are made accurately; this demonstrates my level of responsibility in dealing with the financials of the proposed rehabilitation centre.

I believe my level of education is sufficient; my ability to problem solve, coupled with fifteen years of business related experiences, from customer service to people management, I would without a doubt be successful in the day to day operation of such a project that is intended for community benefit and not for profit.

3.20 BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION:

I was unfortunately raised in domestic violence, which I accepted to be normal until after marriage.

As a child in my mother’s care, I was beaten with objects, suffered fractures and often sent to school with bruises; I was blamed by my mother for everything that went wrong, in particular, for all the suffering she endured within our dysfunctional family unit; “I was born rotten, a bad seed”, she used to add.

I was provided with neglect and less favourable treatment as a child in my mother’s care; my father in frustration, used to remind my mother, “Lilly you have two daughter’s not just one”!

Around the age of eleven my mother, in anger, broke my wrist for wanting to go outside and play with the boys after dinner instead of “being a girl according to her standards” and staying back to fold six baskets of clothes all belonging to the boys, consuming all my play time. I like a clean home but often avoided housework because I did not want to be left in the same room as my mother, who was generally unpredictable in throwing her weight around.

My mother pleaded with the doctor to prescribe medication, as she simply was not coping. In all fairness, she had a tough job raising six kids all under the age of 10 with her family on the other side of the world, while my father worked two jobs to provide...

From the age of twelve my father took me under his wings, which caused my mother further resentment and envy towards me; she was possessive of my father and accused me of attempting to split up their marriage because of the bond we shared.

I was hailed my father’s sports and Karate champion coming first in most my events; I even had a knack for beating the boys at their own games, cricket, football and soccer, which entertained my father. My father used to take me fishing in the early hours of the morning before the tide set in, casting jokes on the way that he was going to drive me to the moon and back... and we bonded strongly, often leaving my mother out of our innocent fun.

My mother was sure to break the bond between us by accusing my father of sleeping with me, “well at least that’s the way it looks to everyone else”, she said and further added, “don’t you think it’s abnormal the way you love your daughter?”; which forced my father to draw back all his love and attention ultimately washing his hands from acting in my defence during the beatings I was subjected to by my mother.

At fourteen years old my mother cornered me in the hallway swinging a broom handle at my head because I accidently broke a plate while washing the dishes – she accused me of doing it on purpose and felt I needed discipline. My instincts kicked in and I ducked under the broom handle swinging at my head missing contact all together, as I stood back up and in order to stop my mother from further charging at me, I threw out my right leg and kicked her in the stomach, which saw her fall to the ground hard. She yelled out for the boys (my brothers) to beat up on me and my father had to race in from the back yard to break up the violence...

I was thrown out of the house to live in the bungalow with no access to the toilet and sometimes even refused entry via the back door for breakfast before school, forcing me to go hungry; it was too much effort for my mother to get out of bed and open the back door to me knocking before school.

3.30 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN ADULTHOOD

At only twenty one, I was enduring divorce and custody battles, as a result of marital violence fuelled by an alcoholic spouse; it was only then that I realised Domestic Violence is not OK.

At twenty four I experienced my first women’s refuge, a referral made by the Centre Against Sexual Assault on my behalf, to protect my children... To escape the violence I took my children from Victoria to Western Australia and lived in six different women’s refuges along the way.

The neighbourhood in Western Australia (after the fourth women’s refuge) was engulfed with Domestic Violence, which made sense as to why the rentals were so cheap. There were drug addicts raising their kids just a few doors down and no one seemed to care; it was sadly accepted.

I tried to intervene by providing the lady next door (who was in a domestic violent marriage) with leaflets from the neighbouring women’s refuge that the children and I occupied for three months upon our arrival to Western Australia and soon enough I became her husband’s new target; just another excuse for abuse.

At one point the man next door, breeched our fence boundaries and entered my carport through the back yard and pulled out the engine wires from underneath the bonnet of my car, and left threatening messages involving my children who were only toddlers at the time. I called the women’s refuge in Fremantle, resorting to a safe house for the sake of my children once again leaving his wife behind.

We were finally safe and settled in beautifully. I got a job with the local bank earning good money and my children were enjoying interacting with other children at the family day care centre, as we had no support from extended family members; luckily the family day care centre was free of charge to single mothers in Australia or I would not have been able to work. As a community, Fremantle (south of Western Australia), was accommodating, friendly and open minded; it offered plenty of entertainment after hours. On the weekends, the kids and I travelled by boat to Rottnest Island for a day trip and caught a movie at the theatre upon our return; they were very happy children and we were safe.

In a nutshell, I’ve spent sixteen years raising two children single handedly with ho help from anyone; and since December 2012, fulfilling my European travel dreams, (enduring 7 long years of police corruption, which eventually cost me my children), which resulted in a marriage to a local. It happened fast because we fell in love and wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. I am sixteen years older than him, (although love does not see age), which subjected me to discrimination by his family members and a community with an impoverished mentality and out dated practices; but not everyone is the same.

My husband subjected me to Domestic Violence as a result of infidelity, a crime that was organised and supported by police corruption over an illegal cross reference that should never have happened – a grudge carried forward from one country to the next. My husband alleged the following which he said came out of the mouths of detectives at the Victoria Police Station in Gozo – during his interrogation:

Australian's are doll bludgers and don't want to work...
Don't get me pregnant or I will hit hard with maintenance (my ex-partners had more to take than my husband and I never touched their money, even though I was entitled to it - I had both father's exempt...)
Detectives claiming I was already married…
Calling me a 'mignuna'...
Further claiming that I was treating him like a poodle on a leash and that if his wife dare treat him like that, he’s slap her in the face Detectives recommended that my husband take a STD test for HIV after sleeping with me
…after 40 year old, women find it hard to conceive
Detectives making fun of my CV that they had handy and told my husband that I have a degree with the university of the streets AND FINALLY - in abusing their power of position tried to bribe my husband with JOB SECURITY should he comply with their wishes to leave me and never speak to me again.

...they also offered to take good care of him, as a friend but not as long as he is married to me and broke the criminal code of Malta and the Police Act in doing so.

This sweet faced husband of mine, who at the beginning was quite innocent and sexually inexperienced, went from being a man of good moral character to a wolf in sheep’s clothing overnight, calculating deception every step of the way - one face to me and another to everyone else. His mother in a separate incident took it upon herself to assault me in the middle of the streets carrying forward the abuse; my husband’s reported, ‘At one point she (referring to his mother) became really aggressive and hit my wife in the face twice and later in the stomach, I had to jump in the middle to stop my mum from hitting my wife once again.’ He further added on a formal statement, ‘My wife did not hit back, she did not raise her voice nor was she abusive at any particular point.

It was this very incident involving his mother that motivated me to establish ‘a tell all’ website where I named and shamed the culprits; however, after separation it was mysteriously deleted and therefore, a second website was born, even better than the first in terms of professional presentation.

Incidents of Abuse(not all listed here) in accordance to my ‘Statement of Complaints’ document, filed with the family courts of Malta upon separation (which was mysteriously deleted from my linked-in profile and my husband was the only one with the password other than me): https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/45965546

3.31 Incident Three

We moved on the St Paul’s Bay sleeping in a tent and looking for work away from all his family members. It was cold and unpleasant but it was better than shouldering the family pressures at hand; his maternal family members making every effort to split us up.

I noticed Bradley sneaking out in the middle of the night for a couple of hours and entering a parked van with a lady waiting for him beside the van. I followed him out one night without his knowledge after pretending to fall asleep, which is how I found out; I noticed this van was following us everywhere and parking nearby our tent each time we moved position due to the wind and rain but I never thought anything of it until I witnessed Bradley’s association with it.

I knew that by questioning him it would subject me to his violence, however, there came a time when I just couldn’t keep quite anymore and therefore, I questioned him in the worst location ever by mistake, it was covered in boulders and cliffs that stood just over the ocean. At first he tried to deny all, telling me what he always tells me when he’s laying, “I’ve got no idea what you are talking about”, then I told him I saw him because I followed him out there and he said, ‘get your evidence’.

Bradley was losing the argument evidence or not and in the heat of the moment, he threw me hard on the boulder that I was balancing on; he was standing over me and as he pushed me backwards, I fell smack bang on my hip with no chance to get back up. I was in so much agony, I seriously couldn’t walk and was in disbelief that someone with such a sweet face would even go that far – my husband!

I felt betrayed that he broke yet again another promise to keep his hands to himself and use his words, after the last incident. I remember crying my eye’s out and looking up to the full moon asking God to help me.

My husband dragged me over to a flat surface where I almost passed out being in so much pain. I was leaning on his lap but unable to stand up. We stayed there till the sun rose and then headed back to the campsite, where my husband had to practically drag me back to while I was leaning heavily on his shoulder for over an hour in agony, till we reached our tent on foot. He asked me not to get him into trouble and said this was the last time he’d lose his temper and once again, I fell for it, forgave him and protected him from criminal charges – I believed he would change.

3.32 Incident Five

The next day he wanted to go to a secret location alone, it was a Saturday morning and I was standing by the door just trying to talk to him; I couldn’t understand the need for secrecy, I didn’t want to stay home alone because my hip was in pain and given that, I did not have the liberty to exit via the flight of stairs that led to the front door by myself (injured). I asked my husband what could be so important on a Saturday and to stay back with me over the weekend while I am still recovering but he refused not only to stay back but also to disclose his destination, telling me it’s none of my business. I was obviously standing in his way and to move me against my will, he picked me up with both hands cupped around my back and both feet off the ground and actually slammed me on the ground hard, hitting my head first.

I lost consciousness and my memory when I awoke. According to Bradley, I didn’t know who I was, where I was and what was happening when I woke up, as I was knocked out cold.

My memory of the event was being slammed on the ground and praying the rosary in the kitchen the next day, with my favourite beads that I brought back from Lourdes; which Bradley broke on purpose in a separate heated argument.

3.33 Incident Six

When we were living in Msida - 109 Conception Street - I noticed an empty wrapper of sleeping tablets on the floor by the front door of our house, it looked like the empty wrapper just fell in that position by accident, as it was on its side???

I asked my husband if the empty wrapper belongs to him and he denied all knowledge of it, and it sure as hell wasn't mine, as I would rather stay up all night than take those things. We were the only two in the house so I couldn't understand it.

The next day Bradley cooked for me, as he usually does and then insisted we go to bed earlier than usual, (straight after dinner), which was odd; I crashed on the couch by accident next to him - it was Wednesday, late afternoon. I woke up Friday at around lunchtime and thought I was going crazy, until Bradley confirmed it was actually Friday. Bradley woke up hung-over, with beer on his breath and I couldn't work it out. He told me that I was going crazy and tried to deny smelling of beer.

I asked Bradley if he slipped me some sleeping pills so he could go out and have some fun without raising suspicion and he denied all, again calling me crazy. ‘We'll I am not on anything, so what happened I asked him???’ And he said that he's got no idea what I am talking about, his favorite punch line when playing the game of deny all!

I told Bradley that next time I am knocked out like this, I will not hesitate in filing a police report, describing what just happened and he can then answer to them; he said, good luck trying to get them to believe you!

And it happened again in the month of June, I was knocked out for 12 hours and woke up with a splitting headache and bruises on my hips (that were not there the night before); as if I’d been knocked around the room while sleeping; again Bradley ‘had no idea what I was talking about’ according to his idea of innocence.

3.34 The Last Straw

My husband and I were going through separation; he has made every effort to push me away since his first interview with the Ministry for Social Solidarity, for the LEAP Project, which he was certain to be appointed before his acceptance came through. He told me that this position was promised to him by a third party (whose identity he did not disclose) and further mentioned that I was standing in his way of getting the job; and therefore, he has to ‘get rid of me’ first. Of course this did not make any sense until recently, when he went as far as to break my statue of The Blessed Virgin Mary that I pray The Holy Rosary to each morning, as a means of what he calls ‘getting rid of me’; which worked like a charm, it compelled me to throw his bags out the front door; Tuesday the 22nd July, 2014.

Someone advised me to forgive him and in the spirit resolving the matter peacefully, I met with him in person the following day and gave him till Sunday 27th of July, 2014, to return back home to reconcile; which he failed to do, as this job is obviously more important to him – chasing money as usual.

TWO DAYS LATER ON THE 24TH JULY, 2014; BRADLEY GOT THE JOB VIA EMAIL CONFIRMATION FOR THE LEAP PROJECT – HE OBVIOUSLY KNEW SOMETHING THAT I DIDN’T!!!

As a result of my husband refusing to pay a cent in maintenance, I was made homeless (despite his 20,000eur per annum income bracket); and having no savings of my own due to unemployment, I was forced to drop legal proceedings against my husband, which would have held him responsible for his crimes of domestic abuse; and the legal aid system already under strain, compromised my opportunities for fair justice by appointing a lawyer not relevant to my case.

I channeled my energies into operating a campaign off the streets on borrowed internet time raising awareness of a problem that is neglected, like the women in this male dominated culture, Domestic Violence - a public health issue - but with deaf ministers and a blind community at large, the numbers will continue to rise.

While sleeping on park benches and public access areas tolerating harassment and unwanted attention on an almost daily basis, I refused befriending members of the community who are not law abiding citizens and who come from diverse religious backgrounds ...and I have turned to God instead. Furthermore, I have taken a zero tolerance on street crime and refrained from such temptations (never settling for the path of least resistance for sake of money); not even in times of great need when my belly was empty, my body was wet and cold and my feet, sore with bleeding blisters.

I AM THE EVIDENCE of a system that is stale and does not work; I have been failed by a ministry that boasts Social Solidarity, who initially employed my husband for the LEAP Project on the condition that he gets rid of me first at a time when family violence against me was at peak levels, as per his own admissions.

I am an individual, a leader, a mother, a wife and someone’s daughter. I have been made homeless as a result of the accepted levels of Family Violence in Malta; numbers are at epidemic proportions and on the rise. I have no family left!

4.10 Melanie’s Story - 1999

I entered the first Refuge with my two children. I had natural way of connecting with the women and children in there and took it upon myself to organise programmes to promote a life away from violence, involving willing participants (after dinner when the workers had gone home). The group grew at a rapid rate and soon enough I had 100% participation, which extended to lunch times based on demand. At that point I had no experience, just excellent people skills and a heart the size of an Ox; however staff were impressed and recommended I pursue studies in Children and Community Services after the refuge (which I did later on in life). The refuge welfare worker was the only person who did not support my efforts, as she felt I was stepping on her toes but the way I saw it is that she wasn’t taking action to promote a positive residential experience, which is part of the reason women were returning to their abusive partners – they simply did not like the refuge. To strike a compromise, I agreed to offer my programme to residents after hours only.

Then one day a new resident entered. Her name was Melanie and she was unfortunately a severe case, no one knew how to deal with her except for my case worker, who was also hers due to short staff. The residents upon Melanie’s admission into the refuge were asked to vote for her stay, due to the severity of her situation; all who refused her (in fear) except for me. I put my hand up tall and fought passionately for her stay, in fact I insisted. My case worker asked me to take into consideration whether I can handle her problems undergoing counselling for Domestic Violence myself and again I insisted she stay under humanitarian rights if nothing else.

All the residents turned sour, as no one wanted her to stay and to transfer her, case workers needed 100% of votes, so I was sure not to give mine. The residents immediately withdrew from my programmes and held their children back from attending, despite the children protesting loudly. Soon enough the refuge welfare worker found her long awaited opportunity to accuse me of causing discord, as the children were throwing tantrums for not being allowed to attend my programme under the instruction of their mothers since Melanie’s entry; but the case workers weren’t stupid and knew exactly what the problem was and it wasn’t anything I was doing. The residents were reacting in fear and to be honest, they were entitled to their concerns to some degree.

In a nutshell, Melanie’s story broke my heart. When she entered the refuge, she was only 17 and quite isolated. Here is a girl who’s mother died at two or three and her father was a drug dealer involved in gang related crime. When Melanie was only 10 (and yes I am shedding a little tear at this computer having to remember her story – it’s very sad...) her father sold her to a pimp in Melbourne, who happened to be Maltese, to clear a drug debt he could not pay. Since the tender age of ten, this poor soul has been tied down like an animal on a daily basis and force-fed drugs until she became addicted in order for compliance to take effect. Then she was forced into prostitution from then on, men having sex with her by numbers to make money for her Maltese Pimp who was too clever for the honest cops and slipped through the system because of the dishonest ones; there were rumours that he knew police in high places who failed to charge him accepting blood money made on Melanie’s back (and she wasn’t the only one, he had other victims (and I am using the word victim, because they are children who had no say in it)).

At the age of only 12, she became dependant on her pimp, was addicted to Heroin and God knows what else, living a life according to dictations handed down by the devil himself – we couldn’t work out how on earth this girl slipped through the system, I mean she never went to school and no one knew about her; it assumed that his contacts with corrupt police officers in high places made a difference.

At 17 she was ganged raped against her will, her pimp tied her legs and arms and further covered her mouth with gaffe tape forcing men to have their way at a price, one after the other and it went on all day without access to food, clothing and water, that was her turning point!

She waited for her pimp to untie her, bruised and injured and then tried to escape, screaming as loud as possible in an apartment block she’s was held in for many years where no one even knew she existed. He grabbed her as she reached for the exit door and stabbed her with a large knife in the vagina – the door opened and she ran bleeding like a hunted animal. Residents called the police immediately after hearing her screams and that’s how she came to the refuge infected with Hepatitis B – everywhere else was full and this fucking monster of a man was looking for her like crazy to finish the job. In fact, it was my case worker, Nesli (a Turkish lady who was married to a Maltese) who initially gave her entry against protocol. So you could imagine the fear this caused the residents, in particular living with a lady infected with an STI and addicted to a substance we did not understand.

Melanie was excluded from the belonging by all the other residents who also refused her communication, socially isolating her like she didn’t exist but I took her side regardless, as I could not stand to watch such inhumane acts of cruelty;;; this girl has been through enough and I understood her pain to some degree but not her suffering, thank God. I took her under my wing and put my level of suffering on the back shelf, as it was nowhere near as bad as hers, including her as a family member. The other residents were trying to scare me by warning me that my children will catch her diseases if I keep hanging around her;;; I used to tell them that germs go where they want to go and they favour people like them, as it is God who chooses our punishment. I drew up a programme specifically for her, which involved exercise, good nutrition and daily meditation and allowed her to freely play with my children and we had some fun playing kiddie games that she never even heard of, like ring a ring a rosy for instance... it was very sad to watch and at times I had to remove myself from the scene to stop myself from crying in front of her, as pity was not what she needed.

I realized that she needed to be a child again and included child’s play into our morning routine and my kids loved her – she was surprisingly very good with them. The only difficulty I experienced is that she was on the Methadone Programme to clean her up and having no experience with drug use what so ever, I really didn’t know how to deal with it; I certainly was not qualified to deal with her addiction by way of experience nor education. My case worker was not the only one who was pleased with how much progress Melanie was making in such a short amount of time.

Melanie broke my heart one day when she said, she wishes God appointed me to be her mother in this life and she further added that my children are the luckiest in the world. She was becoming dependant on me and you can’t blame her, because for the first time in her life, she found a mother. The welfare worker started raising concerns to upper management, claiming that it’s unhealthy for Melanie to become dependent on me and they soon transferred her but waited till I was out all day with my children, as they knew I would put up a fight – I loved her like my own daughter.

I returned to the refuge to find her gone. After hearing about the transfer, I was furious with that damn bitch (referring to the welfare worker) and punched the wall outside hard for the second time while living in that refuge (the first time was an accident while training on the punching bag...) and broke my knuckle, blood going everywhere. The scar remains on my left hand, middle knuckle.

The most unfortunate thing is that as a result of being transferred, Melanie was not coping in the second refuge and escaped (I could only imagine the treatment she was getting by other residents); she returned to the only life she knew and her pimp killed her.

4.20 The Church Speech – 2001

While at the Fremantle refuge in Western Australia, I noticed staff paying close attention to my parenting, watching on in admiration for the way I was handling my children and particularly with regards to supervision.

Then one night after I put the kids to bed a new resident entered who wasn’t coping very well after being handed over by police bruised and battered; she was in a bad way. I sat down with her over a cup of coffee and introduced myself to make her feel welcome. A social worker warned me (as I am known to speak my mind) to tread carefully, as she is in a fragile state and went on to remind me that not everyone is as strong as I am. I replied with, ‘then why don’t you teach them to be?’ and she said, ‘until you’re a qualified social worker, you will stay out of it thanks’.

I realised what the problem was, aside from the abuse she had just escaped; she was being treated like a helpless victim, which is the worst thing you can do to someone who is seeking to change their circumstances of abuse.

So I thought I’d take the initiative, or a risk more to the point, and speak to her as if she was not abused but recognising her injuries at the same time. I was talking to her about choices and how sometimes in life we just make the wrong ones and further added that under no circumstances did she deserve what happened to her; however, in the spirit of positive change, we must take full responsibility for our own behaviours NOT THEIRS... This mindset was an alternative to a method of thinking that keeps us stuck in victimhood if we are not careful in how we process our life experiences. I quickly established where her interests and abilities lie and shifted the conversation onto them, encouraging her to pursue her dreams. Then I suggested a daily routine to help her feel better and of course, meditation for the non-religious to calm her mind.

Of course we bonded very quickly as she found a friend who understood her but this time I kept her at an arm’s length because of what happened with Melanie (the story listed above). At the end of one week the results were already taking shape. The social worker pulled me and asked me what I said to her, ‘nothing that you couldn’t have said, I just took a different approach’ I said, ‘and stopped treating her like a victim, that’s all’. She was very impressed and invited me to give a public speech at the local church this coming Sunday in front of politicians who they specifically invited to gain much needed funding; the priest was going to give a speech in support.

I agreed on the condition that she doesn’t tell me what to do. She didn’t like it very much because she had what she thought was a winning speech printed on paper (that she spent all night putting together and wanted me to read off it). I pointed out to her that if just reading she wants me to do, she can get anyone to do it, as there women in the refuge who read much better than me, me being dyslexic; however, if she wants me to work my God given gifts, then she’s going to have to give a blank canvas and move to one side for me to do what I do best – communication from the heart. I further explained that due to the way I process information, I do not do scripts and work off memory and life experience, which I believe is more effective than anything you can read out of a book. ‘Ok’ she said in a very nervous and untrusting tone of voice, ‘let’s do it Anne, we need this funding and please don’t stuff it up for me’.

Sunday came and all the children from the women’s refuge, including mine, were placed in day care (in-house), as they would only get bored and cause a distraction. It was my turn to get up on the alter and the priest handed me the microphone. He asked where my script was and I told him I don’t need one; he wished me luck but the look his face was almost expecting me to fail. To my surprise I gave a killer speech, which got a standing ovation when I finished. This was the first time I publically spoke in front of a large crowd, let alone politicians and I loved it – I was almost going to pursue study in politics.

I first gave a brief history of my personal experiences of domestic violence, speaking my mind from the bottom of heart and then I went on to explain the problems as to why women return to their abusive partners (because the cycle of abuse is not yet broken). I simply added that the abusive addictive cycle of domestic violence is an addiction like any other but not recognised to be one, an area that lacks much needed funding. And went on... ‘It is my understanding those cycles of abuse can affectively be broken by way rehabilitation following the 12 Step Program given to alcoholics’. I communicated all this over the microphone and added that with help of people of influence such as politicians (like themselves), we can not only reduce the numbers (to continue to see a decline) but also be proud to promote safer communities for our daughter and our daughter’s daughters and especially our son’s who grow up copying what they see if nothing is done, bearing in mind that the same sex parent is the strongest influence impacting heavily on child’s mind during the most crucial developmental years... and I went on and on just like this. I was only meant to give a half an hour speech, which turned into an hour and nobody complained while they were all sitting up grabbing every word I spoke.

The refuge got the funding they needed and the politicians were asking for my information. They offered me employment working with women and children of domestic violence from an office location as a case worker but only after undergoing training and completing my certificate III in Social Work; which was all paid for via government funding, organised by them.

I completed my certificate in The Morley Learning Centre but did not pursue a career in social work because I was quickly employed at a local bank once the kids and I left the refuge; and being a single mother, I can only stretch my time so far.

4.30 The Girl Next Door:

The owner of the rental that I occupied with my children while working for a local bank in Western Australia was selling up and therefore, we moved houses from Mandurah to Coodanup. Everyone told me that Coodanup is problematic and the rentals are cheap because it is a low socio-economic area despite the impressive sea views running along the border of this small town.

When my children and I first moved there we didn't experience any social problems at all except for the fact that it was a little isolated from the major shopping area's and local schools but with my new car, newly purchased and fuel prices relatively cheap, getting around was not going to be problem; having to consider school and day care for the kids, my social work accreditation at the Morely Learning Centre, which I was attending afterhours and work commitments with a local bank.

To make it more a home, I brought the kids a little dog called Snowy (which we rescued from the Animal Shelter), pet fish and a Rag Doll Kitten, called 'Kitty'.

After three months of stay, new residents moved in next door. The girl was really pretty with strawberry blonde hair (like my son's) and a figure to die for, even after two children she was drop dead gorgeous and had men in the neighbourhood stare every time she stepped a foot outside her front door. We had something in common, except for being sexy mums, she was an athlete and always at the gym like me; she was also very active with her children, engaging them in physical activity at the local park with ball games - cricket, footy (Aussie Rules) and Soccer; however, there was one thing that did not match up, which I found strange, she avoided the opportunity to make friends and not even I could get close enough to communicate with her, as the minute anyone went near her or the children, she would pack up and go home; this is something we did not have in common and at the beginning I could not understand!

Her dropkick of a boyfriend was covered with tattoos and drank whisky every night - only God knows how they found each other; I could smell trouble just by looking at him and made several attempts to befriend her while pulling out the weeds in the front garden, as she was checking her mail every day; I could see she had no friends and it was probably because everyone was scared of her boyfriend. She kept to herself and refused me contact, so I ended up just sticking to my friends at the bank where I worked and the mother's from my children's school and day care centre - it's not like I needed anymore friends at the time anyway.

One day just after I put my son to bed for an afternoon nap, there was loud bagging coming from next door brought on quite suddenly and lots of shouting; the lady next door was screaming and the man was obviously hitting her, asking her if she wants another one.

It was her children's screams that affected me the most, which pierced the very walls that confined them, then it went quiet and no one came out of the house.

I got on the phone promptly to the police on the emergency line (000) and demanded their attendance on the grounds of Domestic Violence. I thought I picked up the phone quite early but the operator had informed me that the police were already on their way as I am about the 14th caller and just as I was about to hang up the phone, along come the police, who pulled into next door's driveway - they were there pretty quick smart, which was impressive. I was informed by the operator that the Australian Police have to prioritise cases of Domestic Violence and take each call out seriously, as if it was a matter of life and death.

I freely gave the operator my information before hanging up the phone, as everyone else made an anonymous call; the caller wanted to follow-up this incident with child protection services, 'to make sure the kids aren’t hurt' she said to me'. 'Ok', I said, 'but under no circumstances I am going to assist them to remove her children or be responsible for such a thing'.

That same afternoon I got a phone call from the Department of Child Protection, they didn't waste any time making that call that's for sure; she was the prosecutor for that region and wanted me to give her a signed statement, as a witness, to assist her to remove the children from their mother's care without delay because the mother according to this prosecutor, refused to leave her partner upon police presence. I didn't even let her finish the sentence, as I knew exactly what she was about to say next, and replied instinctively with 'No f**king way girlfriend, I don't care who you are and what position you hold, those kids need to be with their mother in a refuge where they are protected from that ass-hole, who should be charged with assault first and foremost...', I went on in protest, 'I mean have you seen her, she's got a black eye and a fat lip because of him and I'd like to know, where the f**k do you get off removing the children from her when they are probably all she's got left, as it's obvious she has no friends... and I am not going to be responsible for that, so you can tell the cops to do their jobs and I expect you to do yours by (a) giving her a referral to the correct service instead of working to put those kids through the trauma of separation'. She didn't appreciate it so just to make myself clear, I added, 'I don't know what they've thought you in university but it's obviously different to what I'm learning in social work?' Then she went one step further, the prosecutor said with enthusiasm that they can ensure job security for me should I choose to comply, a secure position paying $60,000 in the first year as a social worker working for them once I have finished my course but only if I help her out now'. I seriously couldn't believe what I was hearing and said 'are you trying to f**king bribe me?' she said, 'do you know who you are talking to?' and I said, 'do YOU know who you are talking to mate?' ...and this went on for a few minutes, the usual power play when authorities who attempt to corrupt the system don't get their way, until this prosecutor asserted her position with her final statement, 'it's people like me that take children from mother's like you'.

I was gob-smacked and couldn't believe she tried to threaten me with such an obvious abuse of power of position, so I rose to the occasion, as I always do when I am challenged and said right back to her, 'go your hardest girlfriend, I'm not going to stand here and be intimidated by you or anyone else in your organisation ...and it will be me that will be giving evidence against you in court if those kids are removed from their mother's care', and I went on, '...and you're clearly breaching policies that are in place to promote safer families, not to tear them apart - where do you get off?' I further added before hanging up the phone, 'what that women needs is rehabilitation, a refuge for her initial safety and to be with her children without that ass hole next door, as he should be the one punished not her!'

Then she said, 'I'm going to pretend we didn't have this conversation for your sake', and I said, 'and I'm going to pretend that you're going to do your job well and have her assisted according to policy by this time tomorrow afternoon before I blow the whistle loudly in your ear for everyone else to hear with regards to your misconduct.' ...and guess what happened, the very next day the cops waited around the corner for the ass hole to leave the house and then removed the mother with her children quite promptly and placed them into the local refuge because of a referral that was given by the same prosecutor who telephoned me.

That ass hole next door returned to find the police there waiting with handcuffs and his girlfriend gone with the children; he was charged with a criminal offence, assault and served with an interim restraining order until such time the matter could be heard in court. That afternoon the neighbourhood invited me to a street barbi in congratulations and there were plenty of free snags and beer cooked for everyone - that's how we fight corruption in Australia. A FAIR GO IS THE AUSTRALIAN WAY!

5.10 LEGAL EXPOSURE:

As a result of blowing the whistle on a police officer for sexual assault in Australia, I’ve been subjected to in-conceivable levels of police corruption carried forward from place to the next, sabotaging the opportunity for perfectly good relationships and the right to a fair go, a case stretched seven years long;;; which throughout the years, has given me a VERY STRONG SENCE FOR JUSTICE and intelligence training beyond my years.

As a result of my said experiences, I have represented myself in court dealing with diverse areas of law, in particular, civil and criminal cases (and some family matters). This entailed intensive research of the relevant act’s and the study of sections and sub-sections in preparation for on-coming hearings; and furthermore, compiling and submitting (singlehandedly) all documentation in due course directly with the courts. I’ve also had firsthand experience in cross-examining a witness and from that very moment, my passion to enter the legal arena was born.

One example is a court case that I filed against an educational giant, who failed in their duty of care to provide an environment for my son that is free from violence. The story hit the headlines and the school was very quick to change their policies after that; and believe me, they came out of court in a sweat. They further put into place anti-bullying strategies with not just the students but also the teachers, addressing professional conduct rules. All the parents congratulate me, as they felt I won it for them because although I didn’t get my way in court, I stopped others from going through the same thing after me.

Once Qualified, I had intended to use my legal expertise (as a lawyer) to represent women and children of domestic violence in court, after establishing Europe’s First Rehabilitation Centre - ‘TrentEsta’ – to transform gender power inequalities combating violence against women at the core.

I tried to enter into Law to commence 1st of October, 2014, however, my application with the Malta university was rejected; which I was only informed about at the interview stages (two weeks before commencement) not leaving me sufficient time to re-apply. Furthermore, I have been made aware by university staff themselves that my husband had applied for his masters in criminology at the same time and that I can do my law degree next year when my husband, has finished his masters, (allowing him to go first); which made me very angry because I felt held back for him to get ahead; a clear case of INEQUALITY; again demonstrating outdated practices.

5.20 HUMAN RIGHTS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

The European court of Human Rights has established that states have a duty to protect the enjoyment of the right to life under Article 2, the right not to be subjected to torture and ill-treatment under Article 3 and the right to family life under Article 8; the duty to protect applies also where a private individual commits the actual breach.

When authorities fail to take appropriate action to protect the lives of the innocent, mainly women and children, in cases of domestic violence, they are affectively in breach of the convention. A state cannot wait for the actual violation to take place; it must take measures in order to prevent its occurrence.

Gender based violence against women may breach provisions of the convention, regardless of whether those provisions expressly mention violence. The council of Europe’s European Committee of Social Rights has stated that Article 16 of the European Social Charter on the right of the family to social, legal and economic protection applies to all forms of Domestic Violence and that state parties are obligated to adopt measures to protect women from domestic violence, both in law and in practice.

In cases of Domestic Violence, women (being mainly on the receiving end) may feel intimidated or threatened by the perpetrator, which often leads to withdrawal of consent to prosecute; possible witnesses may have strong emotional or loyal ties to the perpetrator. All these factors must be taken into account when presented with a case of domestic violence.

Combating Domestic Violence is a legal responsibility and should not be dismissed due to a lack of resources. We must ensure that the investigation of cases that are more easily investigated and prosecuted, and thus leading to a court decision, is not prioritized at the expense of more complicated and time-consuming cases of domestic violence. Prioritizing is also a question of attitudes within the police and prosecuting authority, possibly reflecting the attitudes in the surrounding society.

In TRENTESTA we envision special conditions for hearing the voices of women and children affected by family violence, in order to lessen the traumatizing effects of suffering in silence; and ensure that measure are taken to protect survivors effectively against threats and possible acts of revenge. The aftermath of Domestic Violence is very real and often involves stalking and harassment; a large percentage of women will return to the same abuse they escaped if there is not enough support with their first attempt to end the violence.

THERE IS SIMPLY NO EXCUISE GOOD ENOUGH FOR ABUSE!

6.10 SHELTER SERVICES IN MALTA:

Issues experienced:

Lack of awareness. During my efforts in raising awareness for women and children of domestic violence, some members of the community stated, ‘it doesn’t happen in Malta?’

Accessibility and availability of shelters and the services provided within; a social worker is required to enter into all the shelter services listed below

Being believed up against my husband who at the time was appointed as a new employee with the Ministry for Social Solidarity; and rejected for housing, forcing homelessness…

Medical certificate to certify abuse; and police reports

Shelter demand is greater than supply; absence of support

Could not find contact phone numbers for the shelter services listed below

Dar Merhba Bik

Dar Qalb Ta Gesu

Dar Carolina

...

6.20 SURVIVING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE in MALTA

1. The Housing Authority rejected my urgent application twice and therefore, refused me the opportunity to be housed in a property that my husband and I once occupied, which was still vacant and perfectly liveable; my appeal to this day, unanswered and I am still homeless, as a result of an inflexible system.

2. The Social Worker at the Housing Authority, upon disclosing the levels of domestic abuse my husband subjected me to, told me that it’s all in my head; which is the worst thing you can tell someone who is experiencing abuse and trying to seek support.

3. Another social worker employed by the Ministry for Social Solidarity, sat in the chair of a person who was in the position to authorise my food vouchers at the office of the Community Chest Fund, and refused to process my application (and refused me food vouchers) until such time that I agreed to be counselled by her first. I did not deem counselling necessary in order to put food in my mouth (a human right) and therefore, rejected her offer and further refused her communication. I left my application on the desk and walked out the door quietly; and went hungry until the churches started opening their doors.

4. The YMCA began creating an illegal file in my name with every visit I made for clean clothes; I did not ask them for accommodation. I made my point quite clear that being a whistle blower, I cannot possibly be placed in shared accommodation with troubled teens, where there are likely to be problems that are swept under the carpet to keep reputations intact. They kept coming up with excuses to justify this file that they so badly wanted to hold against me and its contents, they kept secret. I demanded they delete the file that they created in my name, which is against protocol and refrain from using it.

The last interaction I had with the YMCA just recently, I was subjected to abuse and profanities by staff while attempting to collect some clean clothing from the donation tub after wearing the same ones for six consecutive months (and even sleeping in them, as I’ve been forced into homelessness); out of spite, a staff member refused me the opportunity for a clean change of clothes. I believe my human rights have been breached and so have their policies

5. Dar Merhba Bik refused me entry into their shelter, as they were full; but even when vacancies arise, they were not willing to accommodate me without a social worker who is governed by the Ministry of Social Solidarity – the same ministry that broke my marriage, in accordance to my husband’s own admissions (Mr Bradley Agius – born 17/11/1989).

6. Dar Qalb ta Gesu, will not take short term tenants and do not have crises intervention; they are simply short of staff through no fault of their own. They insist on a police report, which the MSIDA Police failed to give me upon my request due to no current incidents of abuse.

7. The MSIDA Police told me that the incidents of abuse were simply too old to file a report against my husband, who was working for the Ministry of Social Solidarity at the time. They were talking to me at the same time as holding an open line over the phone to Mater Dai Hospital conversing in Maltese, saying something about a crazy person needing to be picked up urgently – I had a hard time picking up every word, spoken very quickly in Maltese.

8. Dar Theresa in Valletta (an emergency shelter for women, newly opened by the Catholic Church) insisted on a referral from a social worker and had vacancies; they did give me the opportunity to gain one from the Director of The Catholic Church as an alternative; who could not give it...

9. The Director of the Catholic Church in Floriana politely informed me of his reason for not being able to give such a referral after explaining my current circumstances, which led to homelessness. He said it was because he doesn’t know me and therefore, would have nothing to write; which stands to reason in a sense.

10. Appogg said they cannot guarantee housing. They can however, place an application to the Housing Authority on my behalf; which was not deemed necessary, as I have already done that. They also offered to re-construct an application on my behalf to enable me welfare benefits, despite not qualifying; which were I come from, constitutes fraud on government documentation and I am simply not willing to break the law; ‘no-body checks’ they said! ‘If I don’t qualify, then I don’t qualify and that’s that’, I replied, nor do I want to be dependent on tax payers hard earned dollars, a system that is already under strain. Then they had the cheek to circulate phone calls informing related services that I don’t want their assistance and further claiming that they have done everything in their power to help me... Well if that’s how they help people, then I don’t need it! This information was confirmed by a local church that offers emergency relief to the poor and destitute on a regular basis; which for obvious reasons I cannot mention, as I promised in God’s name.

11. ...and the sisters for all other alternative accommodation said they cannot do anything, as they have social workers sitting on top of them; and with regards to the Fatima House in Sliema (who have agreed to feed me), I did not fit the age criteria.

12. All the services mentioned above (except for NGO) fall under the umbrella of the ministry where my husband was appointed as new employee at the time.

7.10 RESOURCES REQUIRED

Seeking sponsorships; accessing funds from global donors, initiating projects, contribution from project beneficiaries and community participation. Once funds are secured, it will be a permanent model for rehabilitation centre based in Malta and catering for all EU Nationals.

Category 1:

1200 Eur for the 'Car Sticker Promotion'; which we are aiming to Launch in April - right after the tin collection street march... Volunteers have already put up their hands to participate
12 Acrylic Nail Vouchers for all fingers and 12 bottles of nail polish
12 cartons of beer, 6 pack

Category 2

Lap top computer with inbuilt webcam
Computer Software - Latest Versions except for the windows operating system, which would prefer Windows 8;;; Corel Draw, Adobe Photo-Shop, Ms Works, Ms Office Suite (all programs please)Printer and 5 Reams of A4 printer paper for further proposals and related office work

Category 3

Photo Camera with batteries and 2 memory cardsMobile Phone
Samsung Smartphone with 4.5inch screen
Phone sim card and a one off pre-pay credit top up to be contactable

Category 4

500 Eur first years internet connection
500 Eur for 1800/local free toll number for the first year, which is intended to create a 'Dob in DV Free Call Line', available to the public 24/7; incidences can be reported anonymously and any information that leads to an arrest will (pending sponsorship) go into a draw to win a 'Brand New Car in December - one drawn each year I hope with adequate sponsorship from a new car sales dealer, which I am yet to follow up on;;; don't get put off guys, it's only money and if we gel together, we can make it happen...

Category 5

8000 Eur for rent; 12 months office space (which includes electricity) in Valletta, local to adjoining services relevant to our cause

Category 6

Print Media; 30,000 D/Sided F/Colour Business Cards; 30,000 A5 Booklets (consisting of 5 A4 Sheets per booklet, F/Colour, D/Sided Print and gloss - the art work will be provided by me, flattened and print ready according to standard format; 32,000 DL Stickers (for indoors); and finally 30,000 Placemats to fit MacDonald’s Food Trays for the promotion to follow the street march tin collection...

'Malta, Let's Say No More' Printed T-Shirts 5,000; and 'Malta, Let's Say No More' Printed Hats 5,000; 'Malta, Let's Say No More' Printed Flags 5,000

300 Copies of my book titled, 'Betrayed NOT Beaten' telling of my own experiences of Domestic Violence; signed copies to be handed out to further raise awareness; including binding and stitching on paperback… 500pages

Category 7

200 Vouchers for 'Free Martial Arts/kickboxing Classes' (for women and children affected by domestic violence) for the first 12 months training - and I'll take it on after that for those who want to continue training but can't afford it; I will need hall space but we've got 12months before the vouchers expire to worry about hall space

Conclusion:

As a business who sponsor us, you will be recognized for supporting a local and humain cause that cannot be put on hold any longer, as the problem is at epidemic proportions and

your business will also be mentioned on all the material we intend to produce for the purpose of this campaign, which I hope will generate attention on a mass scale; the booklets, DL Stickers, T-Shirts, Hats and Flags - a total of 107,000. Furthermore, a local newspaper has already promised free advertising space to adequately expose the campaign prior to commencement, so you as a sponsor, you will also be mentioned and exposed of that print run!

7.20 SUGGESTED PREMISES

Address: 19 Borton Lane in Pieta

My Nanna Annie lived in this address all her married life after the war and raised eight children in it. I have fond memories of this location – there is lots of love in this house. The owner has died and has no air and the house is in a state of repair.

When my husband and I went into this house after returning from Gozo, we found the back wall intentionally smashed in. A man who approached us and was responsible for renovating the adjoining property, thought he’d take it upon himself and access 19 Borton Lane by smashing the back wall down, trying to illegally take-over the premises. I paid a visit to the Lands Department who after dong some enquiries of their own, confirmed that the owner of 19 Borton Lane is deceased and has no air and therefore, the house is now the legal property of the Government.

Here in this proposal, I would like to make a formal request to be allocated 19 Borton Lane in Pieta; with the help of some very kind volunteers, I can bring the said premises back up to living standards to become Europe’s First Rehabilitation Centre for Women and Children of Domestic Violence – TRENTESTA!

7.30 ESTIMATED YEARLY BUDGET

Source

Description

Amount

R E V E N U E

Individual Donors

Tin Collection

Community Contribution

5,000 (twice a year) x2

= 10,000

Major Donors

Major Banks

...for example: HSBC

25,000 (two banks) x2

= 50,000

GVT Grants

The Community Chest Fund

25,000; per year

Other Funds

Property ONE (private)

35,000; per year

Miscellaneous

Local Business Sponsors

5,000 (twelve) x 12

= 60,000 per year

TOTAL REVENUE

180,000 Euro’s

E X P E N C E S

Wages and Salaries (1)

Social Worker

15,000

Wages & Salaries (2)

Chef and Cleaner

15,000

Wages & Salaries (3)

Marketing & Sales

15,000

Rent Utilities

Water and Electricity/ Gas

15,000

Internet Telephone

Internet and Computers

10,000

Equipment/ Supplies

Renovations

25,000

Travel

Graduation Trip & Transport Services

50,000

Programme Costs

Rehabilitation – Inclusion Programme

35,000

TOTAL EXPENSES

180,000 Euro’s

The above budget is just an estimate of anticipate costs in the first year. I aim to generate the majority of funds by way of local business sponsorship and at this point in time, it’s simply too early to guess donation totals.

8.10 MONITORING AND EVALUATION

A comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system will be in place for all project activities. MYOB accounting software will be used to monitor cash flow, income, expenditures and purchases operated by management for security; and regular reconciliations will be done.

8.20 REPORTING

We expect to make public yearly operational reports about the progress of the centre, and a comprehensive report attached covering project activities so that the participating donors can review how the donations given are used in accordance with the objective of the centre.

8.30 TIME FRAME

Anticipated time lag with regards to commencement will be in the acquisition of funds and building materials and volunteers. Once the funds are secured, TRENTESTA will be a permanent model rehabilitation centre for other parts of Europe, fulfilling our mission; however, this will take time and the support of the European Union no doubt.

9.10 THE BIGGER PICTURE

What would it look like to have a working society, where women were counted as equals alongside men and living a life free from violence?

Women are dying from this epidemic because good people in small communities like ours are doing nothing!

I mean what’s it take to pick up the phone and dial emergency (112) as an anonymous person to help someone in need, to help a women who is being violated and abused and next time, possibly killed?

Even if it’s not your daughter, it’s still your problem if you DO nothing!

10.10 REFERENCES

< >http://media.wix.com/ugd/bf9277_f423df924a1243be8bb08a54ab6eac48.pdf) < > < >

My children Kristen and Blake; and my Nanna Annie

The Fortina Hotel in Sliema; who have made this proposal possible

...and of course, thanks to God who gives me daily strength to pursue such projects.

12.10 A LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER

Dear Mr Joseph Muscat (Prime Minister of Malta),

I would like to take this opportunity to request we schedule a mutually convenient time to meet, as so to discuss the possibility of opening up Europe’s first Rehabilitation Centre for Women and Children of Domestic Violence, a public health issue that we can no longer afford to ignore; numbers are at epidemic proportions in Malta and on the rise.

What I would be asking of you is to appoint an empty building that is owned by the Government of Malta to operate such a project for community benefit (please refer to section 7.20, page 30, of this proposal, where I suggested a premises at 19 Borton Lane in Pieta).

Should I be successful in gaining your support, programmes will be implemented within the proposed rehabilitation centre that are designed to break the addictive abusive cycle of domestic abuse, ultimately promoting safer families and respectful relationships between the sexes.

Without your approval Mr Muscat, I simply cannot move forward with this proposal, as there is no one else in the position to give such consent.

Furthermore, I have been trying to make an appointment with you via the correct channels for the past 12 months to no avail.

Thank you, for your time and I look forward to your response - ID Card – 225213L.

...by working together and this project, we can be the European Leaders for the Prevention and Minisation of Gender Based Violence, because to Violence Against Women Malta, Let’s Say NO MORE!

12:20 A LETTER TO GOD

Dear God,

I need a Miracle. I have this idea, it’s for humanity and although it’s a very big dream, I just know that deep down inside of me, it will work.

Malta has been very mean to me and I have acted only in retaliation; please God, help me to be stronger because I know they need my help and as much as they irritate me with their childish snarls like undisciplined children and just to add insult to injury, throwing obstacles of abuse my way; however, I cannot hold hatred in my heart for them and I know I can do this one thing well.

I believe I can make a big difference and one day Dear God, they are all going to see just how right I am.

Yes God, I am talking about this rehabilitation centre, ‘TrentEsta’; it’s something that I’ve been wanting to do since my children were born and I also believe it is part of my calling, the purpose of my existence, as not all my suffering is as a result of my Karma, but it’s only dear God, that I have the time do something about it and her in this letter, I am asking for your help …and only with your help, I WILL DO THIS.

What do you say BIG FELLA?

Love from Anne, the baby girl that was not her parents will to live but yours!

I love you.

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