Recently, more and more people are ready to talk openly about their problems and ask for help, the representatives of the association "Centrs Marta" have concluded. Women aged 30 to 40, pregnant women, and young people who have been victims of violence are the most in need of support.
Dace Kalneniece, a social worker at the Liepāja branch of the Center, said that most often the victims had experienced violence in the family or at the hands of a partner or parents.
"Marta Center has been operating in Liepāja since 2017, providing free counseling from a social worker, lawyer and psychologist. Last year, they provided about 3000 hours of work. "Marta" does not solve, does not save a person's life in the sense that it does something for them. No, a person makes their own life. We are just a tool that gives information on how to do it," Kalneniece explained.
In order to be able to provide even more support, the Center has decided to recruit 20 volunteers. Initially, they will be trained and prepared for their future work, said volunteer coordinator Ieva Landmane:
"We often don't realize that we have some knowledge and talents that we can help someone with, for example, maybe, as I mentioned, there is a seamstress and she can teach a client how to sew, which would be relevant, or, say, there is a woman who runs mindfulness or yoga classes and can teach our clients how to do that."
Volunteers will help the center coordinate its work, supporting clients in everyday tasks such as getting to the doctor, delivering supplies, babysitting, helping with paperwork, or using the computer. The volunteer team is still being recruited - applications are welcome.
