I remember her well. She had a sadness about her that will stay with me forever. When she told me her story, tears came to her eyes and we were all moved by the emotion that poured out of her as she talked about the horrors she had experienced. ‘Janicki’ shared with us that she had been raped over 200 times by her abusive husband, often

“What Dr. Roz’s Healing Place means to me is a place where I can come back from school, to my friends, to my mentors who are very kind and helpful in any time of need. Once I come there it is like a home away from home. A place where I can be myself, with no one to judge me. The mentors are like family to

I don’t know how to start off when talking about my life before Dr. Roz’s Healing Place. I met my husband in 1992 and started suffering his abuse in 1995 when I moved from Ethiopia to Canada. I had left him once before and ended up staying away for a period of six years. About three months before I went to Dr. Roz’s Healing Place, my

In 2006 my two children and I arrived in Canada. For the first two months our family was happy. After that my ex-husband started abusing me. I didn’t realize that it was abuse. I thought it was a crazy love. He was controlling me, checking on me every minute, calling constantly. When I was going outside with our kids, he was spying on me and telling

My husband abused me religiously, sexually, mentally, emotionally, verbally and physically. His whole family abused me and pulled my hair. He would He threw me on the bed, on the floor and against the wall. His sisters told him to beat me but to make sure that my body would not get any marks. He used to hang me by my ankles from the balcony and

By Jasmine, SURVIVOR I am from my dead father Who wanted to make me a lawyer I am from his prayers and hopes about his ‘son’ I am from my loving grandmom And from hugs and kisses, I am from prayer and recitations And from a dark and lonely house I am from a strict culture, Legal, illegal, boundaries and punishment, I am from the religious

Written by: Donna, SURVIVOR It makes me sad when you scream at me I try to figure out what makes you angry The challenge I take up most of my life Today I felt helpless, where are you? I am being ignored and left to die I have been talking in my mind – My God, what has happened to me? Now I have to rise

If you know anyone who is being abused: Know the facts about woman abuse Assure her that you believe her story Listen and let her talk about her feelings Do not judge or give advice Talk to her about her opinions Physical safety is the first priority. If you believe she is in danger, tell her. Help her plan an emergency exit. Respect her right to

Ask yourself these questions: Do you feel nervous around them? Are you scared of disagreeing with them? Do they criticize, or humiliate you in front of other people? Are they always checking up on you or questioning what you do without them and who you spend your time with? Do they repeatedly and wrongly accuse you of seeing or flirting with other people? Do they tell

Children and youth are greatly impacted by violence in the home. Not only are they undergoing the regular physiological, mental and emotional changes of growing up, but they are experiencing all of these things while being surrounded by violence. Imagine trying to succeed in school, fit in with others, feel good about yourself and feel safe and secure, all while watching your mother or caregiver being