Women’s Resource Centre: Six years strong

(l-r) Women’s Resource Centre Summer Intern Lise
Hurlstone, Programme Manager Tammy Ebanks
Bishop, Counselor Cindy Blekaitis, and Administrative
Secretary Vanda Powery

by Brian Buckley

Friday, July 30, 2004

Established in 1997 and originally staffed part-time by a small group of dedicated volunteers, the Women’s Resource Centre (WRC) continues to expand its services and reach out to the Cayman community.

From July 2003 to March 2004, roughly 500 people contacted the WRC either by phone or walk-in to receive referrals and/or information.

Programme Manager Tammy Ebanks Bishop, the first person hired by the WRC when the Centre became operational full-time in 1998, described her organisation’s goals: “We look to give people the information and education to make choices for themselves so they can better their situation.” The motto of the WRC is Empowerment Through Education and Information.

Ms Ebanks Bishop shared the philosophy of the Centre: “The WRC exists to educate and inform on issues relevant to women and the family, with the objective of enhancing the status of women and contributing towards the realisation of their potential.”

The WRC is now staffed by Ms Ebanks Bishop, Counsellor Cindy Blekaitis, Administrative Secretary Vanda Powery, and Summer Intern Lise Hurlstone.

The multi-room WCR office contains two computers (with internet access provided free of charge by Cable & Wireless), two counselling rooms, and a wide work area.

Surrounding the work area are pamphlets, magazines and books on a wide range of topics including: personal health, domestic violence, breast cancer, diabetes, relationships, parenting, addictions, and finance.

Over the six years Ms Ebanks Bishop has seen women grow in many ways. “I think that since I have been here, women are more willing to discuss issues they would not previously discuss, such as domestic violence. That advance has been a result of a community effort. As a result, victims come forward and resources can be found,” she said.

The most frequently used services at the Centre the referral services, counseling services, the Legal Befrienders Programme and the educational programming.

“With the Legal Befrienders Programme, clients can receive confidential, free legal advice to victims of domestic violence.

One day a week a lawyer is in the clinic for face-to face meetings and twice a week we have a lawyer available by phone,” she said.

Ms Ebanks Bishop stressed that anyone is welcome to take advantage of the services WRC provides to the community. “Of course our primary client target is women, however men are not prohibited from accessing the services provided,” she said.

One popular misconception Ms Ebanks Bishop wished to clarify concerned the notion that WRC’s programmes are only for a certain nationality. “Recent statistics reveal that 52 percent of the persons attending educational workshops were Caymanian, thus illustrating that both Caymanians and non-Caymanians equally utilize the programmes offered,” she said.

For the past year-and-a-half the Centre has had a full-time counselor. The response has been overwhelming. Comparing the first quarters of 2003 and 2004, the number of persons counseled has increased by 188 percent.

Two of the summer series workshops are scheduled to begin soon. Living Your Truth begins on 28 July, and Living a Balanced Life, back by popular demand, begins on 11 August.

These free workshops are facilitated by Kevin Pidwerbeski of Caribbean Executive Coaching, and have been popular, with upwards of 30 people in attendance.

Breastfeeding moms might also want to consider stopping by the Centre to use a double electric breast pump that the moms can use in a private room to express milk when they are on break from their places of work.

Something for everyone

One woman who was working on the computer at the WRC commented: “I heard about the Centre from friends who had heard an advertisement on the radio. Often times I come in to do resumes and to type my references.

“The ladies who work here are always running back and forth to help me with any questions I have.”

The woman further added that she viewed the Centre as a great service to the community. She said: “If someone has no money for school, whether they are single parents or a couple, they can come and learn many things.”

By the end of summer, the WRC will be taking to the printers the first edition of the Community Resource Handbook. The handbook has compiled a comprehensive listing of all of the services and programmes in the community with information on more than 100 different Government Departments and private sector organisations.

In September the Centre will launch a new support group focusing on couples, families, and parents. The first topic will be ‘What is a Normal Family’ and will be co-facilitated by Counselor Cindy Blekaitis and staff members from the Department of Substance Abuse.

The Women’s Resource Centre is located in Elizabethan Square and its hours are 8:30 am – 5 pm Monday to Friday. The centre can be reached on 949-0006 or via: www.gov.ky/wrc

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