By Foresee Foundation
As most of us have noticed the heart decorations and candy-filled displays everywhere we turn, Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching. While for many couples, Valentine’s Day is filled with romance, affection and passion; for others, it is filled with anxiety, fear, and violence. In spite of increased awareness, domestic abuse persists in many relationships and the impact on the community is well documented. This Valentine’s Day, Safe Haven Foundation encourages the citizens of St. Maarten to love themselves and each other, to treat their loved ones with respect and equality, and to remember that love should not hurt.
Tell us about Safe Haven.
Safe Haven Foundation was founded in 1998. It is a non-profit organization located on St Maarten, that operates the only shelter on the Dutch side of the island, dedicated to women and their minor children who are in need of a safe space to escape domestic abuse conditions, and gain access to services such as referrals and psychosocial support, via our stakeholders within the chain of domestic violence partners. We also offer our services to men as well.
The Safe Haven Board and Staff are dedicated to providing compassionate, confidential, and sustainable services, by providing personalized care in line with individual needs, and constant opportunities for growth, in a professional and supportive environment, giving survivors encouragement and hope to heal from the trauma and injustice that they have been subjected to.
Our community-based programs, such as our self-esteem workshops, mediation sessions, safe homes training sessions, and youth empowerment programs, also allow us to spread awareness and educate persons in the community about domestic abuse, in order to collectively diminish the levels and effects of domestic abuse on our island.
What can people in the community do to help Safe Haven?
The community can help Safe Haven by not tolerating domestic abuse of any kind. Domestic abuse is a brutal crime that can be prevented if everyone takes responsibility and becomes part of the solution. Yes, it is difficult. Maybe, you feel it is not your business or you don’t know what to do to help. Perhaps you fear retaliation. Put yourself in the shoes of those who are experiencing hurt and violence in their lives. How do you think they feel?
There is no doubt that we can reverse the statistics of domestic violence if each one of us makes a personal commitment to get involved, by reporting domestic abuse, encouraging persons experiencing domestic violence to seek help and support, and by encouraging persons exhibiting abusive behaviours to seek help and support as well.
What does Safe Haven need to become more effective?
Safe Haven needs the community and persons experiencing domestic abuse – or persons who exhibit abusive behaviours – to reach out to Safe Haven for assistance, so that we can serve more persons suffering in silence in our community, in order to help decrease the levels of domestic violence on St. Maarten.
Safe Haven Foundation can be reached at phone/WhatsApp: +1 (721) 523-6400 or 9333 (24/7 Hotline); email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., website: www.safehavensxm.sx, Facebook: www.facebook.com/SafeHavenfoundationsxm.
