Nashauna Drummond, Staff Reporter
Maria Rankine has been volunteering on Woman Inc's hotline for 19 years. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
MARIA RANKINE has been volunteering at Woman Inc. since 1989. After attending one of their trade fairs where a call was issued for volunteers, she offered her skills for their crisis hotline.
"It's been very interesting; I've had the opportunity to help people, especially women. I often have to give them an escape, sometimes they just need someone to talk to. It's very rewarding," said Rankine.
Her background in social work and health education made her a perfect candidate, but she also received training from Woman Inc. Rankine currently works with Regional Coordinating Unit at Caribbean HIV/AIDS Regional Training Institute at the University of the West Indies.
She notes that sometimes listening to some of the calls and situations is hard, but she has been able to overcome that with training.
"You learn to empathise rather than put yourself in that position."
One day each month, from 5:00 p.m to 8:00 a.m, calls made to the crisis hotlines are transferred to Rankine's home. Callers are predominantly victims of incest, rape and domestic violence.
"It's opened my eyes to the kinds of abuse women go through and how it affects them. And that it is difficult to leave," she notes. She explained, "Our job is not to tell them what to do, but to explore their options."
After 19 years working the hotlines, she said, "I feel in a favoured position knowing I've helped someone."
If the caller is a victim of domestic violence and the situation is hostile, it may be necessary to move the victim during the night. Rankine will have to arrange for shelter. It's a process during the night where she contacts the shelter to find out if they have space, then arranges for the police to transport the victims.
"I know I'm helping their situation when I'm able to help someone get out of a situation."
Despite the traumatic stories that she sometimes hears, she has remained strong for the women who call the hotline.
"Psychologically it hasn't affected me to the point where I want to quit. It's very rewarding," she said.
