Words by Smiley Team
It's a shocking statistic that on average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.
Cynthya Hale is one of those statistics. 17 years ago, she was a victim herself and it's because of this, she set up FFT (Family, Friends, Togetherness) Helping Others. She's also a Global Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations.
FFT Helping Others is a grassroots advocacy organization that has been aiding families and individuals through domestic violence, human trafficking, and spreading awareness about these issues. "We started by helping hurricane victims and victims who had become homeless when hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico," Cynthya tells Smiley News.
"There was such a need to help the people out there. We partnered with Voices of Puerto Rico and were able to bring food and materials to the people."
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Once she arrived in Puerto Rico, she saw firsthand the devastation the people were faced with, but she also saw a more troubly issue: the increase in domestic violence and human trafficking cases.
"I saw the signs of domestic violence because I was once a victim," she says. She knew this was a cause for concern, but when she went to look for resources, there weren't many available to provide to the people of Puerto Rico or the community where she lived.
So, she created her own. "I knew that these were issues that the church was not addressing so I wanted to be that place and resource that people in and out of the church can turn to for help," she explains.
FFT Helping Others provides referrals to housing programs, community aid services for women and children, as well as food aid and action to support those suffering from homelessness.
Along with her experiences as CEO and a Global Goodwill Ambassador, Cynthya is also a certified trainer for the Department of Justice, Department of Defense, and the Center for Disease and Control. She speaks to schools to bring awareness of teen dating violence.
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Cynthya launched the first Domestic Violence Vigil hosted by FFT Helping Others in Washington, D.C. in 2019. The purpose of the rally was to spread awareness of domestic violence and acknowledge and hear the stories of survivors of domestic violence.
"We need help changing laws that will protect families who are going through issues of violence, abuse, and trafficking," she adds.
"We hope our rallies and vigils continue to spread the awareness and grab the attention of those who are in a position to make this change happen."
For more information on how to get involved or how to attend, find out more about the organization at fft-helpingothers.com.
You can also support the nonprofit by donating.
