Women of Worth Durbanville (W.O.W) is a community support network, primarily aimed at women going through abuse and relationship trauma or battling to let go of pain and grief, providing them with emotional support, concrete guidance, useful contacts and a healthy time-out.
Currently, we have a facebook page, which provides daily inspiration and useful information relating to emotional wellbeing. I have received quite a few requests from women who need contact information and guidance. I run regular support group gatherings and time-out sessions, which I advertise on MeetUp.com as well as on Facebook.
It's astounding to note, that since it's inception just 2 weeks ago (12 July to be exact), and creating my facebook page, my 'LIKES' have grown to over 900!
This illustrates the fact that there is such a huge need for emotional support for women who have been abused or going through a messy divorce and don't have the financial means to support themselves.
In my findings over the last 15 years, and having gone through almost every conceivable form of abuse you can imagine, I have experienced a shortage of emotional support groups in my area and within my socio-economic sector, which cater for my budget. Although I live in a well-respected, middle-upper class area, I have never earned enough to support my trauma counselling. Coupled to this, at the time of going through my very traumatic and abusive divorce 5 years ago, I was left with absolutely nothing. I was unemployed and my ex-husband took everything, as everything was in his name. I would have had to go to high court to fight for what was rightfully my share, but I did not have the financial means to do so. My ex husband was also a drug addict, which I offered to support him through, but I was not prepared to sit at a governmental institution with individuals who had half their teeth missing, hadn't bathed for days or had nothing more than a Grade 7 certificate. And I could not afford the costs of an expensive lawyer or psychologist, which left me feeling frustrated and helpless.
I have since realised that there are thousands of women in exactly the same position. Thousands of women who have a middle-upper class standard of living, but who are financially strapped. Thousands of women who can't find employment, who can't afford their child's school fees, who can't afford medical aid, who's husbands have left them with nothing after a divorce, and thousands of women who can't afford basic psychological treatment. For a woman, not being able to cope with her emotional well-being or trauma has a seriously negative impact on her entire life-style. It affects her work (if she is lucky to be employed), it affects her children, it affects her family and all her relationships, and has a negative impact on her performance as a respectable, educated human being.
This support network is directed towards those women. Hopefully, with the support of the Durbanville Community for starters, through hosting networking and fund-raising events, we will be able to make a difference - not only in the lives of these women, but in uplifting Durbanville as a community. My personal goal, is to eventually open a Women of Worth Durbanville Crisis and Healing Centre.
In my personal capacity, I have developed a sensory healing programme called Come to your Senses – giving courses and workshops to teach women how to get out of their heads and into their lives.
I have been a writer for most of life, having worked as a magazine editor for Vital Health Foods for many years, and a script writer/online content producer for Dr Michael Mol at Hello Doctor.com
I am also a qualified aromatherapist, events coordinator, charity fund-raiser and PRO.
Find me on LinkedIn as Janine Tassi, and on Facebook as Women of Worth Durbanville. You can also find my Women of worth Durbanville support group on MeetUp.com
https://www.facebook.com/Women-of-Worth-Durbanville-2082248128667532/
http://www.meetup.com/W-O-W-Women-of-Worth-Durbanville/
