The Make It Happen Foundation, since its inception, has been devoted to helping police officers and fire fighters with upgrades to their work spaces and providing equipment where needed.

Most recently, the Foundation has broadened its reach to support women victims of domestic violence and their dependent children.

In March, the Foundation hosted the first ever “Tea and Testimony” event which brought over 300 women together to help raise funds for the Women’s Support Centre. On April 29, the Foundation made a cheque presentation in the sum of $15,000 to the Centre from the proceeds of the Tea and Testimony event. Spearheading the Foundation is Raquel Duboulay-Chastanet.

“Certainly it’s one of those by its very nature that is off the radar, due to the fact that it’s a safe haven for domestic violence victims and women who require a safe place of refuge. It tends to not get a lot of the attention that it deserves, and so this is a small measure to say that we support what the Women’s Support Centre does, and we will be offering continued support whenever we can.”

The Women’s Support Centre was established in 2001 as a temporary place of safety for women victims of intimate partner abuse and their children. It provides 24-hour services for the women who fear for their lives, in a secure, safe, comfortable and supportive environment. The Centre’s manager, Sylvie Edward, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the timely donation.

“When these women come to the centre for refuge, we take a holistic approach. We have to provide for all of their needs because very often when they run from their homes they leave with nothing. When they come to the shelter we have to provide everything. We send their kids to school, we find jobs, we find homes; we assist in every way that we can. Even after they leave the centre, we provide continued assistance to them and their children.”

In recent years the centre has also developed a student assistance programme through which children of clients receive assistance with the acquisition of school supplies, uniforms, and in some cases, the payment of school fees.