Services – SWWS

DROP-IN CENTRE & RESOURCE CENTRE

Launched initially to provide information and assistance to rural woman working in the city, the drop-in centre is now the focal point for all wanting to contact SWWS.
Our project officer will share information with callers and if they require arrange appointments to discuss their personal situation including abuse, relationship issues and/or discrimination, with our trained members or assist them to link with other helpful agencies.
The Centre is also the hub for SWWS member activities and our office.

WINNE'S PLACE AT KUCHING COMMUNITY SOCIAL SUPPORT CENTRE (CSSC)

WINNE’s Place is SWWS’ Information Hub in addition to our drop-in centre. In 2023, to increase access to all SWWS’ services, including those for DV survivors, WINNE’s Place was opened in the center of Kuching at the Community Social Support Centre (CSSC), a collaborative hub for NGOs and government services.

Through WINNE’s Place at Kuching CSSC, SWWS aims to provide protection and support services through:-

case management tailored to every client: planning, liaising and follow ups
organising group empowerment sessions with survivors
individual and group counselling
legal professional help

WINNE'S SAFE SPACE

WINNE’s Safe Space is a temporary shelter that supports women and children re-envision a life for themselves, set goals, and break free from domestic violence (DV).

Within the shelter SWWS plans to provide educational, recreational and social activities for the affected women and children. We will help DV survivors realize their potential and worth, making them feel safe, seen, home and human

It’s location is confidential. Little information is given to the public to protect the safety of our residents as well as potential clients

WOMEN CRISIS PHONE LINE (CPL) 016-582 2660

Operated by trained members since 1988, this confidential service aims to provide a listening ear and moral support to women in distress and in doing so assists them to make their own decisions.
It is a non-political, non-religious, multi-racial, and multi-lingual service which is provided by volunteers.

Aims to:-

provide a listening ear, empathy and moral support to women in distress.
assist women to explore various ways to resolve their crisis
give women encouragement to make their own decisions

WHO ARE THE VOLUNTEERS?

Women who

would like to help other women
come from all walks of life
have received para-counselling training
have pledged to keep all calls confidential

WHO CAN CALL?

Women who are

in distress
need someone to turn to for support
want someone with whom they can fully confide in and share their problems
Women who need information in order to make their own decisions

Helpline Operating Hours

CHILDREN & YOUTH SAFETY PROGRAMMES

For children and youth to be safe they need opportunities to learn in an engaging, interactive, and age-appropriate way how to recognise the danger and how to reach help.
SWWS has pioneered such training in Sarawak providing children with knowledge and skills to empower them including increasing their self-esteem.
We have developed our own material as well as working in collaboration with specialist agencies out of state and worked with the government to introduce such training in schools in different divisions. We have also shared our programs with faith groups, private schools, and, with government assistance, to remote communities.
Our Child Personal Safety Programme is available for primary aged children and those in kindergarten. It includes learning about good and bad touches. We will train your organization how to deliver this training and how to respond if any child disclosures abuse.
For youth, we conduct workshops and seminars on healthy relationships. Our work has been recognized by the State Government who has engaged us in their own projects.

PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAMMES & ADVOCACY

Advancing the position of women in society requires raising awareness, advocacy, and working in partnership for service development.
SWWS initiates such activities and collaborates with others who share our commitment. Examples include:-

1. - Talks, Seminars, Workshops and Exhibitions on freeing women from different forms of abuse & discrimination: legal literacy: child marriage: women’s health: women’s rights under CEDAW (later put in a link to CEDAW)
  - Conducting inter-agency roundtables on (i) Child Sexual Abuse and, in collaboration with the State Government, on (ii) Human Trafficking and (iii) Domestic Violence
  - Forum Series on Contemporary Issues to promote dialogue, share information, and collate views on how to improve the situation for distribution to a wider audience.
  - #BukansalahKamek project addressing sexual violence.

Organisations wishing to implement policies to address sexual harassment are welcome to contact SWWS for training and consultation.

ONE STOP CRISIS CENTRE (OSCC)

This is based at major hospitals and is an example of interagency collaboration to assist the survivor.
Accessed through the A&E department, the centre provides a safe, comfortable, and supportive environment for survivors of domestic violence/rape. Services available include providing medical treatment, making a police report, welfare assistance and counselling/para-counselling services.
SWWS assistance is available on request. We were an original partner to this service when it was developed in the late 1990s providing interagency training to the major agencies and para-counseling to the survivors.

OSCC Para-Counselling Services (or NGO sector)

Provides information and support including para-counselling upon request and consent of the survivor.

Medical Department

Treat injuries, prepare medical reports and provide counselling. Access through Accident and Emergency Department at major hospitals

Police Department

Take police report, conduct investigations and prosecute.

Social Welfare Department

Provide shelter, investigate need for Emergency or Interim Protection Orders; shelter and other welfare assistance.