Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10NASSAU166
2010-02-17 22:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Nassau
Cable title:  

Bahamas S/GWI Project Proposal

Tags:  PHUM KWMN KPAO BF 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBH #0166/01 0482202
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 172201Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY NASSAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0369
INFO EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS NASSAU 000166 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KWMN KPAO BF
SUBJECT: Bahamas S/GWI Project Proposal

REF: 10 STATE 12531

UNCLAS NASSAU 000166

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KWMN KPAO BF
SUBJECT: Bahamas S/GWI Project Proposal

REF: 10 STATE 12531


1. Post proposes the following two projects from The Crisis Centre
and No Excuse Bahamas for consideration for Secretary Clinton's
Global Women's Issues Small Grant Initiative. Both projects
address the theme of gender-based violence. The grants will be
managed by the Political Section.




2. Proposal One as submitted by The Crisis Centre (no editing other
than grammatical)



--------------

Statement of Problem

--------------



Gender-based violence is a major problem affecting all areas of The
Bahamas. Statistics of the numbers of cases of both domestic
violence and child abuse are not readily available. A United
Nations report has ranked The Bahamas among the top nations in the
world with domestic violence fatalities, referring to the 42
percent of murders in 2000 that fell under this classification.
Another UN report states that The Bahamas has the highest number of
reported rapes (per 100,000) in the world. Police report that more
than fifty percent of homicides in 2001 were the result of domestic
violence. A hospital survey in 2000 to determine lifetime
prevalence of domestic violence in females presenting to the
accident and emergency department found that; forty percent
reported physical abuse, twenty percent sexual abuse, and
thirty-seven percent verbal and emotional abuse. In June 2009,
the Government proposed an amendment to the Sexual Offenses Act to
prohibit marital rape. This was a giant leap in the fight for
women's rights and equality; however, the outcry from many sections
of this society was unprecedented. This response demonstrated the
misinformation that many Bahamians have been exposed to; many
conservative elements opposed the Sexual Offenses Act on religious
grounds. They argued that the marriage bed is sacred and undefiled
according to the bible and such legislation will only cause
dissension within many homes and communities while at the same time
sending innocent men to jail as a result of "false accusations by
vindictive women." Bahamian women appear to be seen by many as
having no rights over their bodies within the confines of marriage
and are exposed to sexual and physical violence that is silenced by
the social norms of a society, which sees the husband as having
authority over the wife's body and encourages male sexual
aggression thereby perpetuating violence against women. The need

is therefore vital and urgent for a more aggressive awareness
campaign that is culturally sensitive; a campaign that spreads
awareness in New Providence and to the Family Islands of The
Bahamas.



--------------

Summary of Proposed Program

--------------



This project aims to increase awareness of gender-based violence
among youth, church groups, and men's and women's groups within the
islands of The Bahamas through a series of community meetings,
workshops, and distribution of educational leaflets and posters. In
addition, community based workers including social workers, nurses,
police officers, community leaders, and teachers from the Family
Islands will be trained on the dynamics of gender-based violence
inclusive of intervention strategies and referrals. In order to
reach the wider general population public service announcements for
television and radio and informational materials on gender-based
violence will be produced. The prevention of gender-based violence
requires advocacy and sustained public education which would work
toward a change in a culture that accepts and perpetuates violence
against women and children by developing the capacity of
community-based advocates to deal with issues of sexual and
domestic violence. This project will increase awareness and
knowledge about the different forms of gender-based violence
including physical, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse, how to
recognize the signs of such abuse, understand the effects of this
abuse on victims and how and where to get help. At the end of the
project a cadre of community-based workers will be trained on how,

when, where, and why to intervene when they suspect an adult or
child is a victim of gender-based violence. Providing this group
with this information about gender-based violence will greatly
increase their capacity to provide vital assistance to victims.



--------------

Project Description

--------------



Project Activities

* To conduct a major workshop for up to 100 persons from
the Family Islands, to ascertain the situation of gender-based
violence in their immediate communities/organizations as well as to
ascertain the needs of the individual islands.

* To develop, produce and broadcast 30 second public
service announcements on gender-based violence to be played on
Prime Time radio and television slots.

* To reproduce posters, brochures, and fact sheets to be
distributed to New Providence and on the Family Islands.

* To implement pilot projects on three major Family Islands
through monthly visits by two members of a team of counselors and
facilitators.

* To facilitate a series of workshops/meetings on
gender-based violence in the community.



We are not aware of any major risks that could affect the
successful implementation of the project. The project will depend
on the availability of the health sector workers, police officers,
social workers, community leaders, and teachers on the Family
Islands. There may be minor scheduling challenges given the
different projects being implemented within these various sectors.



Program Objectives

The goal is to raise awareness at the community level by sharing
the information and transferring skills needed to enable early
intervention. We believe that educating and providing support for
survivors reduces the long term effects of domestic and sexual
violence.

* To increase awareness of gender-based violence among young
women and men within the islands of The Bahamas.
* To train a cadre of community-based advocates specifically
police officers, social workers, and nurses from the family,
islands to become public educators of information on gender-based
violence: its signs, effects, how to deal with it and who to turn
to for help.
* To facilitate a network of organizations - faith based,
police, youth groups, government and non-government - who would
work to increase awareness of gender-based violence and its
degenerative effects on the quality of life.
* To create access to psycho-social support for victims of
gender-based violence to three major Family islands of Abaco,
Eleuthera, and Exuma.



Target Audience

* Youths Groups
* Police Officers
* Teachers
* Social Workers
* Men's Groups
* Nurses
* Church Groups
* Women's Groups



Strategy

* Improve consciousness and heighten awareness of
gender-based violence

* A three day workshop held in New Providence for three to
four delegates from each island
* Establish pilot clinics in three major islands Abaco,
Eleuthera, and Exuma via monthly clinics supported by staff from
New Providence
* Production of awareness raising materials to increase
awareness of gender-based violence including spousal rape, teen
relationship violence, and child sexual abuse.
* A manual which can be used as a resource by advocates on
Family Islands



Work plan/timeframe



First Quarter

* Preparation of resources
* Preparation of manuals, brochures, posters, etc.
* Family Island training workshop
* Community meetings in New Providence

Second Quarter

* Follow up activities on the three major Family Islands
* Media campaign via radio

Third Quarter

* Media campaign via television
* Family Island outreach clinics

Fourth Quarter

* Impact assessment
* Evaluation



Output

* Improve consciousness and heighten awareness of GBV which
should set tone for passage of spousal rape amendment

* Trained cadre of resource persons for populated Family
Islands

* Establish Centres on three major Islands



Monitoring and Evaluation

This will be achieved by pre and post assessment of participants at
workshops, public educational sessions, and by sampling section of
community



--------------

Budget

--------------



* Workshop in New Providence (100 participants)
$3,000.00
* Travel from Family Islands (round trip)
$6,792.00
* Accommodation for Family Island participants
$5,000.00
* Workshop materials
$1,000.00
* Stipend for counselor/facilitators
$5,000.00
* Travel/accommodations for counselor/facilitators
$5,000.00
* Manual preparation
$500.00
* Community Meetings
$5,000.00
* Printing (posters, brochures, flyers)
$10,000.00
* Production of PSAs

$10,000.00
* Media and Public advertising on radio and t.v.
$10,000.00
* Laptop and projector
$2,016.00



Total
$63,308.00



-------------- --------------

Description of Recipient Organization

-------------- --------------



The Crisis Centre is a registered, non-profit organization that
provides services to people who are the victims of physical, sexual
and emotional abuse. The Centre was opened in 1982 with the
primary aim of sensitizing the community to the devastating effects
of all forms of abuse; in addition to advocating for legislative
and societal protection of survivors and raising public
consciousness. Our services cater to both males and females of all
ages from all socio-economic levels. The Centre is committed to
the elimination sexual and domestic violence in The Bahamas. We
also aim:

* To promote the safety and healing of survivors of sexual
and domestic violence and their families.

* To raise the consciousness of all communities throughout
the Bahamian Islands to the adverse effects of violence on the
quality of life.

* To fight for legislative change to protect victims of
aggression and challenge relevant agencies to foster appropriate
and sensitive response to these issues.

* To improve our service delivery through continuing
education of all Crisis Centre personnel and share our professional
expertise with the country at large.

* To provide a resource centre of family violence
literature, with specific reference to national data, prevalence
and trends, so as to facilitate the development of effective
programs.



The Crisis Centre has a staff of one and a number of volunteers who
provide a wide scope of services to the community. Our volunteers
include psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, volunteer
counselors, and attorneys. They provide the following services:
Initial intake, crisis counseling, individual therapy, couples
therapy, family therapy, group therapy, 24-hour Hotline, rape
victim advocacy in hospital, court advocacy, and domestic violence
advocacy at selected police stations.




3. Proposal two as submitted by No Excuse Bahamas (no editing other
than grammatical)

--------------

Statement of Problem

--------------



Haitian-Bahamian communities are challenged in accessing post
secondary education and in acquiring jobs because of the time it
takes to become legally naturalized. This is a huge barrier to
overcome and many of the women become unwed mothers during this
period of no work and no school. Most of these residents live in
over-crowded shanty towns with houses which lack the basic
utilities and tenable infrastructures. This creates much of the
social and economic tensions facing the country.



--------------

Summary of proposed program

--------------




1. Our program will examine the transition from high school to
the work force or college for the displaced Haitian/Bahamian. We
will examine the social and economic divide in our country. Our
focus is on sexual and domestic abuse with an aim to empower our
youth economically, socially and academically.

2. We will target the grass-root communities in the eastern
District of New Providence with special emphasis on the displaced
Haitian-Bahamian youth. These communities lack the basic skills
and confidence to advance in society.

3. We will engage the services of the Ministry of Labour and
Social Development, Education, Foreign Affairs (Passport & Visa
sections),Financial Service (Domestic investment Board) and Youth
Sports and Culture, Superior Driving School, Legal Aid Clinic,
Bahamas Family Planning Clinic, Male Health Initiative, Aids
Secretariat, Atlantis Hotel, Baha Mar and College of the Bahamas
for training the participants and offering incentives. Also, the
Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Department of statistics, for the
purpose of gathering statistics on the state of affairs to get a
more accurate picture of what we are faced with.

4. No Excuse Bahamas will partner with International
Organization for Migration (IOM),Bureau of Women Affairs (Ministry
of Labour and Social Development),Legal Aid Clinic (Attorney
Ellsworth Johnson),UNFPA, Exuma Chamber of Commerce, Bahamas
Chamber of Commerce, Local church groups, private sector groups
(Bani and Nitroz Film, etc.),Crisis Centre, Students of the
College of the Bahamas, local volunteers, and Cancer Society Grand
Bahama.

5. We chose this project as a result of direct interaction in
the Haitian-Bahamian communities and listening to their complaints.
This was also done by watching the alarming rate of babies born to
young un-wed mothers at the Princes Margaret Hospital. We have
visited that area and met with many of the Haitians in the
communities and the concern of their displacement is a major issue
to them. Most of the basic academic, inter-relationship and social
skills in both low income areas are also noticeably missing. There
is also a recognizable level of intolerance of ethnic groupings in
both communities. We would like to further examine this problem
through a survey of the Eastern District of New Providence where we
plan to initiate this program. There is not as high a
concentration of these persons in this particular area which
therefore makes it easier to implement, manage, monitor and assess
the initial impact of this initiative. The recent Haiti earthquake
has further exasperated this problem and exposed more elements of
human trafficking.



--------------

Project Description

--------------




1. This project will involve a comparative study of 10
Bahamians, 10 Haitian migrant women and 10 Haitian/Bahamian born
in The Bahamas awaiting status between the ages of 18 - 25 who meet
the criteria of being victims of domestic or sexual violence, human
trafficking or who are displaced due to an inability to become
naturalized.

2. The goal will be to:

a. Document over a one year (12 month) period their (Young
women) challenges and the assistance given
b. Create a documentary of the process undertaken for
television
c. Create PSA's and posters
d. Provide legal and psychological counseling
e. Examine the impact as it relates to sexual violence, human
trafficking and human servitude
f. Submit recommendations to Government/relevant agencies for
action
g. Provide education on human trafficking and sexual violence
to community and church leaders
h. Focus on two New Providence communities, and one community
in Exuma, Freeport and Abaco


3. No Excuse Bahamas will canvass the two communities to find
candidates for this program. We will examine the surveys from the
Bahamas Chamber of Commerce to determine how each program should be
tailored to meet the specific needs of our initial participants.
Based on a social assessment by a social worker and a basic

education, medical and psychological assessment (information will
be solicited through a form and examined by a professional) to
determine mental capacity and physical health, we will determine
who will enter the program and how it will be tailored to meet
their specific need.

4. We are seeking other organizations to partner with us
financially, including, the United Nations Population Fund's
Regional Office (UNFPA, Jamaica) [No Excuse Bahamas registered with
this organization (UNFPA) and met with the National Program Officer
during her visit to the Bahamas].

5. The short term success of this program will depend largely
on the level of participation by the sponsors, including the
government's involvement. Strong mentors and volunteers will be
needed to realize short term success. However, we anticipate
reaching out directly to 30 individuals for the twelve month
period. We also intend to indirectly, through this program, reach
out to thousands of young men and women on the issues of sexual
violence and human trafficking.

6. This project is unique and we are not aware of any other
programs past or present that directly addresses this social ill in
The Bahamas. Focusing initially on New Providence, we believe this
will be a program that can be replicated in each grass-root
neighborhood with much success.

7. Not only is this project feasible but it is practical. No
Excuse Bahamas staff and volunteers have worked with youth in this
country and know that if given an opportunity and if equipped with
the right tools they can empower themselves to rise above
mediocrity. This program is designed to be sustainable and easily
replicated not only in other Bahamian communities but in other
countries that have a similar challenge.

8. Our biggest challenge to achieving our goals is to
coordinate all of the relevant corporate, government and volunteer
participants. We will have to begin the process early and be able
to show not only the benefits of this program but the urgency in
getting it started. We may have to initially start with fewer than
needed personnel and add more as we progress. Language may be a
barrier initially; therefore, the assistance of Creole interpreters
will be sought. Undocumented Haitians may not want to openly
participate so this may present an additional challenge.

9. An assessment of this program will be undertaken by
Reverend Fr. Elvado Turnquest, a trained psychologist, sociologist
and Catholic Priest. Assessment/Evaluation forms will be designed
to meet the program's requirement. Fr. Turnquest was selected
because of his professional and academic background and his ability
to be objective in his evaluation as he has no ties to the
government or No Excuse Bahamas.

a. Each phase will be evaluated
b. The overall initiative will be evaluated.





--------------

Budget

--------------



No Excuse Bahamas anticipates a total cost of USD 91,690.00 to
complete this project. A complete breakdown of costs is outlined
below.




Cost

Quantity

Total



Legal

$2,000.00

1

$2,000.00

Chester Chamber


Manage Grant

$23,750.00

1

$23,750.00

No Excuse Bahamas


Airfare

$166.00

5

$830.00

Exuma



Per Diem

$80.00

5

$400.00



Hotel

$120.00

15

$1,800.00



Venue

$500.00

1

$500.00



Lunch

$200.00

2

$400.00



Flier Distribution

$50.00

10

$500.00



Airfare

$186.00

5

$930.00

Freeport



Per Diem

$80.00

5

$400.00



Hotel

$130.00

5

$650.00



Venue

$500.00

1

$500.00



Lunch

$200.00

2

$400.00



Flier Distribution

$50.00

10

$500.00



Airfare

$186.00

5

$930.00

Abaco



Per Diem

$80.00

5

$400.00



Hotel

$120.00

5

$600.00



Venue

$500.00

1

$500.00



Lunch

$200.00

2

$400.00



Flier Distribution

$50.00

10

$500.00



Survey

$1,200.00

1

$1,200.00

COB Students


Legal Aid Clinic

$3,500.00

1

$3,500.00

10 Women


Venue

$500.00

1

$500.00



Meals

$200.00

2

$400.00



Transportation

$100.00

2

$200.00



Flier Creation

$2,000.00

1

$2,000.00



Flier Distribution

$500.00

1

$500.00

Billboards

$750.00

6

$4,500.00



Educational/Training Series

$1,000.00

10

$10,000.00

selection of ten women to be monitored for 12 months


Permanent Posters

$350.00

30

$10,500.00

Port of Entry in Exuma, Abaco, Grand Bahama, New Providence


Assessment

$5,000.00

1

$5,000.00



Documentary

$5,000.00

1

$5,000.00



PSA's

$250.00

10

$2,500.00



Counseling

$150.00

10

$1,500.00



Documents

$500.00

1

$500.00



Website

$2,000.00

1

$2,000.00



Advertising

$5,000.00

1

$5,000.00



Total

$91,690.00














-------------- --------------

Description of Recipient Organization

-------------- --------------




The mission of No Excuse Bahamas is to raise the consciousness of
at-risk youths in their environment through positive developmental
programs. In keeping with our mission we employ a four prong
principle:


Commitment


No Excuse Bahamas wants to inspire pro-social friendships, strong
interpersonal skills, and instill a sense of hope in the future.


Responsibility


The focus of No Excuse Bahamas is to empower youth in establishing
goals and following through on commitments.


Possibility


No Excuse Bahamas wants to expand the perspective of young people
to make them aware of life's possibilities.


Support


An individual is dramatically influenced by their support system.
No Excuse Bahamas wants to surround young people in a caring,
inclusive learning environment and where this is not practicable,
show care in their environment.





No Excuse Bahamas is a Non-Governmental Organization that hosts
programs geared to form synergies with other local NGOs and
international and Bahamian government agencies. Using positive
entertainment and community activities, at-risk youth can be
introduced to pro-social partnerships as opposed to anti-social
alliances with negative influences like gangs. Their personal
relationships can aid in developing or reestablishing a greater
sense of individual responsibility that will give youth the
commitment to follow through on the path to adulthood with a sense
of personal and national pride and accomplishment.

Through inculcated negative vices, (sexual, domestic and community
violence) repeated social, academic and religious failures and
reinforcement of destructive habits, at-risk youth have lost faith
in 'the system' and any possibility of successfully putting their
lives together. The goals of No Excuse Bahamas are to identify
such at-risk youths in our community who are in potentially violent
hot-spots (schools and neighborhoods) and offer positive support
systems. The idea is to empower the young person not to glorify
and emulate local criminal behavior but to make positive changes in
his/her life.



We are currently registered and actively involved with numerous
youth and Women organizations locally and internationally
including: Ministry of Youth, S.C.A.N. (Ministry of Health
Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect Unit),Bureau of Women's Affairs,
UNFPA (United Nation Population Fund, Jamaica),WWSF (World Wide
Summit Federation, Switzerland),Commonwealth Foundation, (England)
and the Chamber of Commerce. We have worked and formed alliances
with Dr. Patterson of the Crisis Centre and have been supported by
the Bahamas Family Planning Association (Executive Director, Judith
Cooper) and Mr. Ezekiel Munnings of the Male Health Initiative,
Ministry of Health and as a member of the National Child Protection
Council. Two of our staff including the chairman, have completed
the IOM training on human trafficking and the training of trainers
in Grand Bahama.



Our organization has hosted many national week long awareness
activities which included bringing in international speakers and
local and international artists to raise awareness of child abuse
and sexual violence against women. For two years an annual
resource booklet, which was supported by the U.S. Embassy and the
IDB, has been produced and distributed free of charge. This
booklet contains both local and international articles on domestic
violence and child abuse and addresses made by Minister of Social
Services, SCAN, Crisis Centre, Bureau of Women Affairs Police
Sexual Offence Squad, Williamae Pratt Center for Girls, Prisoners,
and many others. Articles cover: Sexual abuse in clergy, homes,
school, true stories locally and internationally, homosexuality and
abuse. We host a one week event annually during the month of
November in recognition of Child Abuse Day/Week.
AVANT