PEOPLE | interview Womanthismonth.com December 2023 97 to pursue a divorce from my abusive husband. I received legal aid to facilitate this, and now I am so much happier. I cannot thank the Centre enough for its help, which is still ongoing as I occasionally meet social workers to discuss my progress and attend lectures which are hosted to spread the message to the community. “Not only that, I felt confident enough to return to work and I also tell my colleagues and friends to seek out support if they are going through similar trouble.” Any reader who believes they require the support of the Aisha Yateem Family Counselling Centre can enquire about its free services either through visiting its location in Hamad Town or by calling the hotline on 17 430-488. This provides immediate counselling to women who cannot reach the Centre with psychological and moral support and the enactment of a safety plan to minimise further incident in violent situations. The Centre has received approximately 1,320 cases of domestic violence to date, but another important aspect of its service is the continued follow-up care. Ms. Alkabbaz explains that 30 percent of cases continue to receive support long after their issues are resolved, and the women who have thrived since receiving help then support each other as a community. One such example is the case of a woman, who wishes to be referred to as Narjes, who joined the interview to discuss her story. “I was in an abusive marriage and was struggling very badly with my mental health, not knowing where to turn,” she reminisces. “I eventually plucked up the courage to come to the Aisha Yateem Centre and ever since my first session with a counsellor, I was so excited just to have someone that would actually listen to me and understand what I was going through. “After sharing my story and talking through my options, I felt brave enough Manager, Jalila Ismail Alkhabbaz Solidarity Stand A stand of solidarity with Palestinians and people at the Gaza Strip was organised by the Palestinian Embassy at its premises. The event aimed to secure humanitarian aid and medical materials.
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