Witnessing or experiencing family violence has serious implications for children, but none more so than children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

The Intouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence is hoping to create new culturally sensitive therapeutic resources for children experiencing family violence and is seeking funds for the project.

The centre has launched a crowd funding campaign, hoping to reach $20,000 by November 19 to help them add to their child therapy products.
Already the team has created a children’s book called The Empty Jar, which parents and therapists can use to help children better deal with the difficulties of family violence and relocation.

The book, launched at the Melbourne Writers Festival last month, is the first phase of the centre’s culturally sensitive resources they want to create.
CEO of the centre Maya Avdibegovic says the crowd funding campaign will help fund the second phase of products.

“We want to develop a whole therapeutic pack to go with the book that will consist of emotion cards, stickers and some other tools that can be used in therapy as well as parenting tip sheets translated in 10 different languages,” she tells Neos Kosmos.

Currently the tipping point of the campaign is at the $10,000 mark, meaning if the funding reaches that point, the centre will be able to keep the funds.
Seeing the success and response of the book, the centre has been encouraged to keep the product line growing.

Initially, the idea for creating these resources was born out of noticing a need to entertain children when their mothers come to the centre.

“The Empty Jar started as a very small scale project. We were approached by our graphic designer who wanted to do some pro-bono work for us to develop some colouring pages for children that come to our offices when their mothers have appointments with us,” Ms Avdibegovic says.

The centre deals with almost 1,000 cases a year from 94 backgrounds.

Last year, the centre helped 17 Greek women get help from their abusive relationships. About half of the cases the centre deals with include children, which is why it was so important for them to create these products.

No donation is too small, but those donating above $25 will receive special gifts and mentions.

For a $100 donation, you will receive a signed card from Sunni (the protagonist in The Empty Jar), a set of illustrated cards and your name on the Centre’s website acknowledging your support.

A $500 donation will get all those perks above, but also comes with a signed poster and signed copy of The Empty Jar.

A $1,000 donation includes a ticket to the 2015 Comedy Festival to see The Empty Jar ambassador Nazeem Hussain, along with the other prizes.
If the crowd funding campaign is successful, the centre will look at expanding their product line to include practitioner training workshops to increase their capacity to work with culturally and linguistically diverse clients.

To donate, visit http://startsomegood.com/fillthejar

To find out more about inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence go to www.intouch.asn.au

For those needing help, the Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can be reached toll free on 1800 015 188.