Parce que la violence les blesse aussi...
En 2010, CBC a organisé un concours, Champions of change, à l'échelle internationale pour honorer dix bénévoles accomplissant un travail extraordinaire. Les deux premiers finalistes reçoivent chacun une bourse de 25,000$ et les huit suivants de 10,000$. Vous pouvez en apprendre davantage sur leur imoplications respectives et enregistrer votre vote sur la page présentant les dix finalistes: www.cbc.ca/change/top10.html
La Financière Manuvie s'associe à ce concours et offre les bourses aux gagnants, choisis parmi plus de 1350 candidatures reçues.
Un autre prix, le Judges' Prize Award a également été offert. Il consiste également en une bourse de 10,000$. Mon conjoint, Mario, avait soumis la candidature de l'AnimEscale et j'ai reçu reçu cet honneur au nom de toutes les familles que nous avons aidées et de celles que nous rencontrerons dans l'avenir. J'ai versé l'entièreté de cette bourse dans les coffres de notre mission.
Annoncée par Mark Kelley, animateur de Connect ( www.cbc.ca/connect/ ), cette nomination nous a profondément touchés, nous donnant des ailes pour accomplir davantage d'accompagnements aux victimes de violence domestique lorsqu'elles nous confient leurs animaux familiers, pour en assurer temporairement la sécurité et le confort.
CBC launched a contest, Champions of change, in order to honour 10 volunteers for their outstanding achievements. The first two finalists will receive a 25,000$ grant and the other eight will receive 8,000$ for their charity.
You can visit this link to meet with them read all about their work at: www.cbc.ca/change/top10.html
Manulife is associated to this contest and offers the grants to the winners, selected from more than 1350 that were received.
Another prize, the Judges Prize Award is also offered, which is also a grant of 10,000$.
My soul mate, Mario, nominated the AnimEscape and we will accept this honour on behalf of all the children and their mothers we helped so far, and those we will meet in the future.
Announced by Mark Kelley, host of Connect ( www.cbc.ca/connect/ ), this award deeply touches us, giving us wings to do more to support victimes of domestic violence when they put their trust in the AnimEscale, when we foster their animals, giving them security and comfort, until they can be reunited with their family.
November 18, 2010.
Thank You, Nicole. Because of your generous volunteer work, you were nominated as a Champion of Change.
A word of humble thanks. You are one of the more than 1350 volunteers who were nominated as a Champion and your volunteer work is making a difference. The Judges panel reviewed applications and heard the stories of amazing volunteers. We were in awe of the contributions, Champions like you are making nationally and internationally. We were made to feel proud of Canada and Canadians as we made the difficult choices of whom among these wonderful nominees represented the best values of us all as a people and country.
You are certainly representative of true Canadian values and traditions. Congratulations to you. Thanks to your efforts, we are all winners because the world is a better place.
Frank O'Dea, Chair, Champions of Change Judges Panel
November 18, 2010.
Thank You, Nicole. Because of your generous volunteer work, you were nominated as a Champion of Change.
A word of humble thanks. You are one of the more than 1350 volunteers who were nominated as a Champion and your volunteer work is making a difference. The Judges panel reviewed applications and heard the stories of amazing volunteers. We were in awe of the contributions, Champions like you are making nationally and internationally. We were made to feel proud of Canada and Canadians as we made the difficult choices of whom among these wonderful nominees represented the best values of us all as a people and country.
You are certainly representative of true Canadian values and traditions. Congratulations to you. Thanks to your efforts, we are all winners because the world is a better place.
Frank O'Dea, Chair, Champions of Change Judges Panel
Why do I volunteer?
In life, one can either stay still and safe at the quay, watching the boat sink or choose dive in order to try to rescue the castaways... I prefer the second option. In regards to domestic violence, I had the privilege to grow from this obstacle in my life, and which I turned in a challenge: making sure no child, no woman, have to bury their precious pet companion because they could only leave the pet behind when they enter in a shelter, before the AnimEscale. I cannot sit there, watch and hear their pain and cries for help without giving them my modest contribution to them on their path to freedom and dignity. Domestic violence hurts ALL the members of a family, and our pet companions are often all we have left in such context. Talk to this 10 years old girl who entrusted me with her two goldfishes, in a Ziploc bag as the father just threw the aquarium on the floor to keep her and her siblings from leaving the house, trying one last time to exert control; she told me in her own words: What you see is a lot more than fishes: they are my confidents, the only friends I have left and the only ones I can trust as of now...
What motivates me?
Meeting the family in the core of the crisis, I see children crying, sometimes physically hurt, but every time psychologically deeply injured, and their mothers devastated, lost and confused. As I meet them every month to keep them in touch with their pet companion, I can see them grow, in the noble sense of the word. When they take back their animal after three or four months, I see their smiles back, their hope and confidence regained, their shoulders straight forward and, most importantly, the greatest reward is hearing kids telling me they will do as I do when they grow up, because they now know how important their pet is to them and how greatly they needed a helping hand.
Each animal I foster is a true blessing... I am privileged with the trust the families put in me and I shall always make sure I will conduct myself accordingly, to meet their expectations. I am enriched daily with their letters, emails, and calls just to keep in touch years after they got their beloved animal back with them. By my support, I wish I tell the children that any obstacle in life can be turned into a challenge, if only you dive...
Why does it mean so much to me?
For each animal I foster and save, there is a woman and at least one child that are saved, since most of them (48%) will absolutely not leave the abuse without making sure the pet is protected as well from the abuser. Being by their side means a lot to me, since I know in my heart that I save lives, and that my actions give back the true meaning of friendship and loyalty to the children and their mothers. It also means that the life and death of my German Sheppard, Pepper, who died from the abuse and post-traumatic stress at a very young age, were not in vain. One can seek revenge in an eye for an eye attitude, or can turn the pain into growing, by sharing and giving, and in a forgiving state of mind... Pepper is the true soul of the AnimEscale, I am only his soldier and messenger...
May each woman and child today living in fear, shame, silence and loss of self-confidence know that it is sunny out there, behind the curtains if only they would open them wide, knowing they are not alone, and same goes for their so precious pets... I truly, deeply, admire them all for their courage, as I know how painful these moments of despair can be... Should I be fortunate enough to witness their growth and stand by their side as they walk their path to dignity and freedom, I will be blessed.
Pourquoi je m'engage?
Dans la vie, on peut rester tranquillement et en sécurité sur le quai à regarder un bateau couler; on peut aussi choisir de plonger et tenter de sauver quelques naufragés. Je préfère la deuxième option. Dans le contexte de la violence domestique, j'ai eu le privilège de grandir par cet obstacle dans ma vie, et de le transformer en un merveilleux défi: faire en sorte qu'aucun enfant, aucune femme n'aient à pleurer leur animal familier puisque ces victimes n'avaient d'autre choix que d'abandonner ce membre de la famille à part entière pour entrer en centre d'hébergement pour victimes de violence domestique. C'était avant l'AnimEscale. Je ne peux rester immobile, à regarder le chagrin et la peur de ces femmes, à entendre les pleurs et les supplications de ces enfants, sans tenter de leur apporter mon modeste soutien sur la voie de leur rétablissement, vers la liberté et la dignité. La violence domestique blesse TOUS les membres d'une famille, et les animaux familiers sont souvent notre seule source de réconfort et de loyauté en pareil contexte. Parlez-en à cette fillette de 10 ans qui me confiait ses deux poissons rouges, placés dans un sac de type ZipLoc puisque son père avait lancé l'aquarium par terre, pour intimider la jeune fille, ses frères et soeurs ainsi que leur mère, qui souhaitaient quitter le foyer. Dans ses mots d'enfant, elle me dit alors: "Ce que vous voyez ce n'est pas juste deux poissons. Ce sont mes confidents, et les seuls amis qu'il me reste, les seuls en qui je peux avoir confiance..."
Quelle est ma motivation?
Lorsque je rencontre ces personnes au coeur de la crise, je deviens témoin des pleurs des enfants, parfois blessés physiquement mais toujours émotionnellement,et je peux constater la désolation et la confusion de leurs mères. Mais au fil de nos rencontres mensuelles, alors qu'ils retrouvent pour une heure ou deux leur précieux animal familier, je les vois grandir, dans le sens le plus noble de ce mot. Et, après deux ou trois mois, lorsqu'elles reprennent enfin leur petit compagnon auprès d'elles, je découvre leurs sourires, la lumière dans leurs yeux, l'espoir et la dignité dans leurs yeux.
Chaque animal que l'AnimEscale héberge est une bénédiction, puisque je suis privilégiée de la confiance des familles. La plupart du temps, je garde contact avec les enfants et les femmes par la suite; leurs lettres, leurs dons et nos conversations m'enrichissent. Par mes actions, j'espère démontrer concrètement aux enfants que dans la vie, on peut faire de tout obstacle un merveilleux défi, si seulement on plonge...
Pourquoi est-ce aussi important pour moi?
Pour chaque animal que j'héberge, protège et sauve, il y a une femme et au moins un enfant qui sont également sauvés, puisqu'un grand nombre (48%) refuseront de quitter un abuseur pour ne pas abandonner leur animal familier. De les soutenir.
De se soucier de la sécurité de leur animal familier en une période si trouble de leur vie, honore grandement ces personnes. Par mes actions, je souhaite démontrer aux enfants le sens des mots loyauté et partage. par ailleurs, mon chien, Pepper, a perdu la vie peu de temps après avoir subi des abus, son corps ne pouvant supporter le stress post-traumatique qui en a résulté. Afin que sa souffrance et son décès n'aient été vains, il est devenu le coeur de l'AnimEscale; je ne suis que son message, son soldat.
Puissent chaque femme et chaque enfant qui vivent aujourd'hui dans la peur, le silence, la honte et la perte d'estime de soi, savoir qu'il y a le soleil derrière les rideaux et qu'elles peuvent choisir de les ouvrir bien grands pour laisser entrer la lumière dans leur vie. Je les admire profondément pour ce courage qui les anime, puisque je sais fort bien à quel point ces moments de détresse sont souffrants.
S'il m'est accordé de devenir témoin de leur guérison, de marcher près d'elles pour les soutenir dans leur démarche vers la dignité et la liberté, je serai bénie.
Le concours CBC Champions of change
The CBC Champion of change grant
