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8 - The Canadian Champion, Tusday. May 25, 1999 F*ct- say it balt 487 Laurier Ave, 878-2881 «Faaily wd for 30yean" Reaching out to women who are isolated and vuinerable By CLAUDIA D'SOUZA Special to the Champion What's it like to begin a new life in anoth- er land? It's not always the exciting journey somne would believe it to be. Isolation, unfamniliarity with surroundings, a new way of life and language barriers ail corne into play and can make for a very difficuit transition. The Halton Rape Criais Centre (HRCC) locatcd ai Hopedale Mail in Oakville, ams to case tbis transition for women of diverse cultures througb its Outrcach Prograin. The prograin reaches out to Halton's evcr-growing multi-cultural community to hclp womcn overcome Uic multiple barriers Uicy face in get- ting support and services sensitive to their needs. The Outreacb Committec is made up of wonien wbo are active- ly involved in collaborating wiUi other organizations and agencies in Halton, who case about women's issues and speak a varicty of languages. flic tnsc cornerstone of Uic prograni is to inforin thc public, particularly cultural and cUinic communities, about Uic services available ai Uic centre, and to educate on Uic issue of vio- lcnce against women. Often, unaware of services available 10 Uirn, some immigrant and rcfugce womien live in isolation prone to Uic niany faces of violence. '"Reaching Uic multicultural conimunity is more difficuk thUan reaching the mainstreani," explains outreach workcr Kcrry Samucîs. "Language is one of Uic obvious obstacles. They're dealing with basic issues; money, food, housing, education. Taking that step bo feel wclcomc or to ask for bclp requires extra effort. The program is open to woman fromn ail over Halton - not just Oakviile." «Sometimes in oUier cultures Uic man does evcrytbing outside the home and this leads to isolation, stress and guilt for the woman left ai home. Tbey're not cncouraged to take contA of Uieir own lives. It takes double and triple effort to overcome Uiesc obstacles," agrees Outreacb Worker, Ingrid Zollikofer. "In six monUis, wc bave already bad sane great success stories of women returning to school and rcally connecting wiUi oUicr women. The eniphasis is to empowcr and get control. It's open t0 aIl women - ot just Uiose wbo havc been subjected to abuse. Often it is their first forum to open up and tait about issues important to Uicm." Advocacy within Uic systeni (welfare and Uic courts for exani- pIe) on bebaif of clients also falîs under Uic centre's unibrella. TMm Outreacb Program's monthly meeting, acconipanicd by a pot luck lunch, is beld every fourth Friday of Uic monUi and a regular drop-in is heîd cvery Friday bctwcen noon and 4 p.m. wiUi free babysitting, tes and coffe provided. e CENTRE's on page 10 Taylor Nursery owners Barb (loft) and Phil Lawton peek out of the brlghtest bug In town. mhe pair have recelved mny commenta inca festoonlng the car with vlvld gardon-style artwork. 4Flower power'is back in style Spring bas been in bloomo at Taylor NurserY since Febn'az. That's when owncrs Phil and Barb Lawton unveiled tbeir new conipany car - a brightly painted Volkswagen Bug. -"We wanted to do sometbing different and tbeYre such cute cars," said Barb Lawton of the blooming bug. Wbat they did was bise a Burlington aisbnish artist to festoon the tiny car witb flower, landacape and garden scenes. Thle couple came up with the concept, wbich tbcy sbared with ariia Ron G3ibbs. llaey then left the artwork in bis capable hands. It toolc about cight weeks to complete. -He put it ail togetber for us," said Ms Lawton. "It's one of these traveling biliboaris." The car made its debut at the large Canada Blooms show in Febniary. "People just loved it. They thougbt it was gorgeous." 'he scenes are an intricate that people notice a new detail virtu- aIly every ie they look at it. 1I Olnd people go round, then go round again to Olnd somctbing new in it," said Ms Lawton. Tbough the artwork was expensive, it was well worth it, she said. 'It's a fun car. 1 really enjoy it. Wben people look at it, they just laugh. It's such a happy car." Readingfestfor kids soon Kids who love to read wiil fit in perfect- ly at Uic childrcn's literacy festival ai Uic Farn Museumi Sunday, May 30. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet 12 Canadian authors, illustrators and storytellers and enjoy readings, author signings and books at Uic event to promote litcracy and Uic importance of rmadling. Hfigblighting this year's festival will be an appearance by Steve Nease - who along wiUi writing and drawing Uic Pud comic stnip is a nationally known and syn- dicated political cartoonist. Milton's Literacy Festival for Children' wili be beld froni 12:30 to 5 p.m. The event is sponsored by thc Town of Milton, Milton and Halton HuIs public libraries and the Milton Community Resource Centre, with tinancial assistance froni tbe Canada Council for the Arts througb thc Writers' Union of Canada. Wagon rides around the 64-hectare museun on Townline Road, north of Steeles Avenue, will be held. Admission costs $5 for adults. Childrcn gel in free. Attention ail Gardeners'6 Doos the loy of gardening always seemn to b. accompanied by aches and pains? Bending forward for long periods of timne con strain your bock. " Keep your bock stroight * Bond at your knees and hips when lifting, roking or digging. pods. " IF garclening poin persists, see o physiotheropist. A helpful hint from the. Canadian Physiothera f Association and the. Halton &;qqw Community Rehabilition Centre. For Physsoh.'.rapy ervices Call... HCRC at 876-1515 i