Facility for abused Dominican children to be officially commissioned next month

Place of safety at Jimmit. Photo credit: GIS

The Place of Safety for children at risk located in Jimmit is now providing care to children who have suffered from various types of abuse.

The building was constructed at a cost of $3.9 million by the United Kingdom-based charity “action for children”.

Hon. Minister for Social Services, Community Development and Gender Affairs, Gloria Shillingford has said that the facility has been designed to be an all-encompassing child care and protection program.

These remarks were made while addressing the Dominica Labour Party delegates’ conference on Sunday, February 13, 2011.

“The facility has been designed to cater for 32 children ranging in ages from the new-born to 18 years. It will function as a safe and protective environment for children who have been abandoned by their families or those who suffer abuse in the home or at risk of this,” Shillingford said.

The Place of Safety is the first ever 24-hour residential home for abused and abandoned children on the island.

The home will eventually be able to look after 100 children each year, giving them a secure and loving place of refuge. The Place of Safety will be officially commissioned next month.

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42 Comments

  1. Christine Gomes
    August 24, 2012

    Great to hear there is hope and security for these precious abused children. Does anyone have an email address or telephone number for the facility? Please forward to my email please. Thanks

  2. Samantha McKay
    April 5, 2011

    Dear All,

    This is a wonderful project which has the potential to make a significant difference in the lives of those children who have already suffered a tremendous amount of abuse in thier young lives. I am a Social Worker and criminologist in the UK. I have a wealth of knowledge and experience in regards to child protection and am very much interested in meeting with the government of Dominica in order to provide the appropriate training to professionals working with such disadvantaged children.

    Good on you DA.

  3. b n jj
    February 20, 2011

    good

  4. From London The patriot
    February 19, 2011

    This is a progressive move, however proper regulations should be put in place to facilitate the effective monitoring of this service in order to ensure that good practices are implemented at all times in that place, to give those vulnerable looked after children a genuine service to improve their life chances.

  5. Just giving my 2 cents
    February 19, 2011

    Progress!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    This is what we need to see and hear more of!

    These things matter more than all the other stories in the media! The children are the future so progress starts with ensuring that they have a future.

    Way to go – govt and people of Dominica

  6. Klaron
    February 19, 2011

    very happy that this facility is here to support and take care of children with these experiences, cause by physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Which can manifest into psychological problems as a child and beyond. I am more than happy to offer my help and work support as a professional within the child care provision settings. Well done to all for this project establishment.

  7. Aaaaa
    February 18, 2011

    Yes very good project! The government must also ensure that they supervise the welfare of these kids even in this building. There are many cases of people working in institutions such as these who further abuse kids so I hope there is a system in place that will monthly or whenever monitor how the children are treated and developing in there.

    • Mel-ç
      February 19, 2011

      I agree! Everyone must be looked at very carefully!

      These children are already subject to abuse, vulnerable! They may not report abuse from the ppl who r supposed to protect them! God forbid, these things happen!

      Great effort anyway!!! If I had more time, I’d volunteer my services to the very young! A little education stimulation to get them started in the right direction. Work with a lot of little ones in school and in my scout troop! they need all the love, and attention that they can get!

      Hats off the the ppl behind this project, just keep and eye, or both eyes open.

  8. worried dominican
    February 18, 2011

    happy for the abused kids that they have a safe sanctuary,thats what we are talking about the 27million on the state house that we do not need right now.providethe children with computers and instructors that they will be able to trust and not take advantage of them while they are being rehabilitated.

    • Gabo
      February 20, 2011

      Hmm! We have a home for children we also want our State House. Each have their separate uses.

  9. Ki pool
    February 18, 2011

    Please be fair give the European Union some kudos they spent quite a bit of cash on this facility (DSIF funding) well, moved it from where it was stuck to almost where it is today. So in fact the Minister can have some say it is under her Ministry. It was not totally funded by the UK based “action for children”. BNTF also spent some money there. Get the facts correct.

    European Union/government of Dominica – DSIF funds
    CDB/Government of Dominica – BNTF funds
    UK based”Action for Children”

    • Conscious
      February 18, 2011

      I hope that at the opening ceremony tand on the building itself the support of the EU, CDB (via BNTF) and NCH Action will be acknowledged by the Government. I hope this project is not portrayed as a DLP or Papa Skerrit thing

  10. warma
    February 18, 2011

    fabulous….great job all involved

  11. TsB
    February 18, 2011

    @ Pepper

    Why do you-all always praise Ministers for jobs he had no hand in doing??!

    Didn’t you read the second paragraph??

    –>The building was constructed at a cost of $3.9 million by the United Kingdom-based charity “Action For Children”.<–

    The Prime Minister didn't raise a cent. Please allow him to do something before you say 'job' well done. And I believe "Action for Children" has done us a great service and for them we should be grateful.

    • TsB
      February 18, 2011

      Correction, should have been: “…jobs THEY had no hand…” (1st line)

      • profiler
        February 18, 2011

        Rule of thumb. It happened under their watch, when it is bad the govt. in power takes the blame, the same is true when good thing happen. Government function in most cases is that of a facilator, helping to create the environment for development.

  12. Disclaimer
    February 18, 2011

    That’s a very good initiative and accomplishment. I do hope that the children utilize the services rendered to them. Too many of our teens and kids are suffreing. Good going.

  13. where is the parent
    February 18, 2011

    its about time…whoever got it thanks….thats the development we want not calling the radio and talking non sense the same voices over and over and start jailing parents because the abuse will not stop

  14. Bfree
    February 18, 2011

    How we can help, what can we do, what can we give, who can we contact to make donations would be very help DNO. hopefully you can publish this info.

    I also sincerely that all employees, counselors etc are thoroughly screened before they are employed because the last thing we need is for this establishment to be tarnished by unscrupulous persons.

    • FED UP DOMINICAN
      February 18, 2011

      Good question. We’d be interested in making donations.

      Yes DNO do your thing and find out.

  15. Robotron
    February 18, 2011

    Why not just call it ‘The Dominica Children Home’ instead of ‘Facility for abused children’. I think this would take away the stigma associated with ‘abused’ that will be placed on children attending this facility. These children would have already been traumatised by their experiences so putting a label on them after all that will not enhance their rehabilitation.

    • Dominican woman
      February 18, 2011

      Actually the name is “Place of Safety”

      • Gabo
        February 20, 2011

        I dont think they should say anything so obviously discriptive like that. “Youthable?” “Betterdays?”

    • Gabo
      February 20, 2011

      I agree with that, Robotron. I wonder if this is going to tie in with Operation Youth Quake, or will there be two separate institutions?

  16. aye
    February 18, 2011

    well done

  17. Anonymous
    February 18, 2011

    great initiative

    I remember when i was kicked out at 16 I used to sleep all along the roadside, bushes and friends houses.

    All I needed was a little guidance.

    I hope this place offers this guidance, security and warmth for those children.

    • Mel-ç
      February 19, 2011

      It better offer all what u said because if it doesnt, whats the point?? WE MAY JUST END UP WITH MORE MESSED UP YOUTH!

      Sorry to hear what u went through. However done is done and i admire u for talking about it!
      BIg up uself!!

  18. My two cents
    February 18, 2011

    Very good/ timely project. Thanks to all who made this project a reality. May we keep working in the interest of all citizens near and far. God Bless the Nature isle of DOMINICA!

  19. Muslim_Always
    February 18, 2011

    That is very good. I pray that our children will effectively recover from these traumas of abuse.

    Hope we can have some clinical psychologists to work there as well. They have the expertise to delve very deep and offer short and long term therapy.

  20. Concerned
    February 18, 2011

    There were several persons who hold degrees and Masters degrees in – Child psychology, Behavioral science, Social Work, School counselling among other disciplines- and were turned down because the Government claimed that they couldn’t afford to pay them and that related positions were all filled.

    I believe that this facility is one that has been long awaited. But if the ” professionals’ dont fit the definition- then the efforts will be in vain.

    …………… I do hope this will be addressed!

  21. Pepper
    February 18, 2011

    Thanks again and again Honourable Prime Minister.

    • Deoborah
      February 18, 2011

      What did the Minister contribute to the effort.

      • Gabo
        February 20, 2011

        If something had gone wrong with it he would get the blame, though. Some of your to bias. If he did not want it for Dominica it would not have been here.

    • FED UP DOMINICAN
      February 18, 2011

      Please RE-READ the article. The PM had NOTHING to do with this project.

      Red or Blue its a very worth while facility. Lets hope the children are cared for in the best ways possible.

    • Anonymous
      February 18, 2011

      The prime minister had nothing to do with this.

  22. D/CA for JESUS
    February 18, 2011

    Praise the Lord… my dream come to pass. What they need is to fence there and secure it with alarms. I would love to offer counseling to this children, so if DNO can acquire information about that and post it here, that would be great.

  23. de caribbean change, BBA, MBA, CPA
    February 18, 2011

    The party is working, for the people, and with the people, and to the people..

    • Deoborah
      February 18, 2011

      What does “the part” have to do with this Project, did you read and understand the news article.

      • shate man
        February 19, 2011

        appearently not!! leave these ppl in their bliss eh pal! dey kia do bettter!

      • Boyz2men
        February 19, 2011

        Oh, shut up Deoborah.

        • Gabo
          February 20, 2011

          Some people have absolutely nothing good to say at no time. :mrgreen: Stuups.

        • Gabo
          February 20, 2011

          You are the one who should shut up Boyz2men. You need to mature your contributions a bit.

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