Page 13 - 2016 The Shelter Impact Report

When nine-year-old Nikko first attended counseling at
The Shelter, he came in with his head down. He did not
make eye contact and barely spoke. He is a skilled artist,
and each week, he created clay figures. Little by little,
he began to talk as he formed the figures.

Nikko had never known peace in his short life.
He witnessed his father’s violence against his mother
nearly every day. When he was eight, his father told him
his mother no longer wanted him and took him to another
country. His father later agreed to return, if Nikko’s mother
met all of his demands. The abuse continued, and with
the help of friends, Nikko and his mother found safety at
The Shelter.

During counseling, a new Nikko began to emerge from the
clay. He talked about the bad dreams he had almost every
night. After months of work, he began to smile and even
laugh, holding his head up rather than down. His advocate
recalls her moment of surprise, when Nikko held up a clay
figure and said, “We are happy now!”

A priceless moment, sculpted from your support.

that moment...

“I remember watching the movie, The Intern, and thinking about the importance of
the work we do through the Raising Gentle’men program. I have had the opportunity
to see, first-hand the transformation that can take place when boys are empowered to
move beyond macho stereotypes and become compassionate, caring, and respectful
young men.”

Bill Villafranco | Trustee & Chair Gentle’men Against Domestic Violence®

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