by Melanie
Global statistics for domestic violence reflect that 1 in every 3 women experience domestic violence at some point in their life*. When people think of domestic abuse, they typically associate physical violence but there can also be emotional, sexual, financial, or psychological abuse that makes someone feel victimized and hopeless. There are no statistics about domestic abuse in the international households in Shanghai, but we know it is an issue in our community and there are limited resources to support those who need help.
Why do we need your help?
Safe Haven Shanghai is a new organization of professionals and volunteers working together to build a support network for victims of intimate partner violence in the international community. Safe Haven Shanghai aims to provide information, support and services to individuals and families in domestic and relationship abuse situations. It is a collaboration of several community organizations such as LifeLine Shanghai, REACH, Shanghai Mamas, Girl Gone International and supported by several Consulates.
We aim to connect domestic abuse survivors to counseling services, legal support, consular assistance, and trained advocates who can empower them to by providing practical and personal support as they seek safety. Building a new organization with such a vision takes support from our wider community through volunteer time and talent.
We have the following roles to fill:
Phone Intake Volunteers-
Phone intake volunteers are the initial point of contact for callers seeking the support of Safe Haven Shanghai. The role of the phone intake screener is to gather basic information as it relates to the situation prompting the call and connecting them with support resources. The phone line volunteer will have one to three 6 hour shifts per month and calls will be routed to the volunteer’s mobile phone. Volunteers will need access to a secure, quiet, and private space during their phone shifts.
Volunteer Advocates-
The role of the advocate is to assist with the implementation of a victim-centered safety plan designed by the professional case management team. Advocates will empower survivors by providing them with emotional, practical and personal welfare support.
Administrative Support & Internal Roles-
These essential roles will support the organization by scheduling phone volunteer shifts, tracking in-kind donations, accounting, internal data tracking/analytics, and general administrative tasks.
Fundraising-
This role is to support the fundraising efforts of Safe Haven Shanghai so the organization can provide support and services to victims of domestic violence. In addition to raising money, writing grant proposals, and sponsorship appeals, this role also involves raising the profile of SHS within the international community through networking and awareness building.
Volunteer Training will be on January 27 at a downtown location, so please keep that date in mind as you are considering volunteer opportunities.
If you would like to get involved, please email safehavenshanghai@outlook.com and we can send you further information and in-depth descriptions of the roles that need volunteer support. We will also include the volunteer application so we can know a bit more about you.
*WHO Violence against women
Fact Sheet: Intimate partner and sexual violence against women, Nov 2017
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs239/en/