Ending Guyana's legacy of domestic violence

Youths in Guyana are working to weed out domestic violence in the next generation.

Domestic violence has embedded its roots deep into the social fabric of Guyana. The Caribbean nation boasts one of the world's highest rates for sexual violence and for many the problem is dangerously close to home. One in four Guyanese women has been physically abused in a relationship, and domestic violence is rife.

It's a legacy passed down through the decades that the country's young want to bury with the next generation.

At a recent nationwide youth retreat, domestic violence and how people can make the choice to stop it were put under the microscope.

Spearheaded by Christian youths from the Guyana Congregational Union and the Guyana Presbyterian Church, the event held in the West Coast Berbice region of Guyana, drew in young people from more than 42 churches across the island to get them engaging in a range of workshops, discussions and Bible studies addressing violence in relationships.

Funded by the World Council of Reformed Churches (WCRC), it focused on domestic violence in all its forms, along with corrective and preventative measures and a special focus on God's plan for relationships.

Speaking out

National Youth Advisor for the Guyana Congregational Union, Dwayne Renville said the project was designed to arouse interest and motivate youths to advocate and practice non-violent relationships.

"The retreat was planned and executed by a mixture of male and female youths from the Guyana Congregational Union in collaboration with youths from the Presbyterian Church of Guyana. The issue of domestic violence was addressed from all perspectives - hence the youths have been motivated to stop the violence and avoid violent relationships," he said.

"It is appalling to note that our godly principles and practices would allow us to love our neighbours as we love ourselves, and yet we experience the shocking discovery of our menfolk killing their partners and hurting their children.

"As concerned citizens, we wish to urge victims of violence to be bold and speak out against those who inflict any sort of violence, and to seek help from established organisations such as Help & Shelter. Similarly, we encourage the perpetrators to seek help; God did not intend for them to be abusers. Let us come together and stamp out this evil practice from our society."

Activities at the youth retreat took on a biblical perspective and served to educate participants on the historical and current structures that legitimise violence especially meted out against women and children.

In Guyana, the spread of violence has been fuelled by ongoing problems such as:

• continual abuse of women/children by male family members
• learning and emulating violent behaviour by example
• wrongful and misguided Christian teaching that encourages male dominance and abuse towards women
• deep-rooted social pattern that allows for violence in relationships to pass down through generations
• inadequate resources and facilities to deal with the issue in its entirety

Taking action

The retreat encouraged young people to adopt non-violent attitudes in their relationships in a bid to help prevent the spread and continuation of violence within their communities. It also aimed to re-educate them about the different systems and structures within society that support and promote violent behaviour and to get young men involved in the fight against that kind of behaviour.

Organisers got participants expressing their own position on domestic violence through poetry writing, letters and artwork. They also got them to look back at the history of domestic violence in Guyana to see how it can quickly become responsible for destroying family life.

Participants took part in Bible studies and devotions which helped them see the issue from a Christian perspective in terms of their faith, beliefs and responsibilities as a Christian.

They were also encouraged to think about how they could create their own action plans for advocacy and find alternatives to violence.

"The project was worthwhile as all of our youths have experienced violence in some way, be it as victims, witnesses or perpetrators, " Dwayne said. "Based on the reviews of the participants, the organisers are confident that the retreat was a success.

"We look forward to other activities where we as youths can be involved in building and promoting happy families and peaceful communities. We are grateful for the knowledge, exposures, experiences, friendship, motivation, inspiration and finally the commitment of the officers of GCYPU and the support of the WCRC who provided the funding for this retreat."