Description
The primary focus of our foundation is to offer therapy for children with special and additional needs. Recently, however, we have seen an increase in applications by victims of domestic violence who are single mothers of children with special needs. Violence makes a lasting impact on women: they are often faced with the struggles of financial difficulties, low self-esteem, legal misinformation and gender inequality. Inspired by the Norwegian MARTE program, our aim is to provide assistance for divorced women who were touched by the painful legacy of domestic violence. Beyond the legal, financial and psychological aspects of advising, we are also dedicated to raising public awareness of common misconceptions about domestic violence. We do believe in the power of community building, thematic weekends and self-help groups. We have built our training programs and database in co-operation with several professional associations.
Summary of project results
Every fifth woman in Hungary has or will become a victim of domestic violence throughout her life. The foundation has been contacted several times by mothers due to ‘their difficulties with their children’, but it soon turned out that it was the destructive force of domestic abuse that lay in the background. They have built their work with abused women, increasing their self-esteem and legal awareness and improving their commitment towards their children by involving them as well in the group work. As soon as women leave their isolation and find themselves again, they have incredible capacity for holding the groups together even after the termination of the program, for which their organisation continues to provide the venue as well as expert help until they are able to find further supporters. A women’s group, therapies offered to women and children, dog-aided therapy, legal support, experts, volunteers support the process thanks to which many abused women, children can start a new life.
Summary of bilateral results