VALINI Leitch is a proud recipient of an award which was bestowed upon her on the night of Saturday, October 23, 2021 and is now part of an esteemed group of “25 influential Women Leaders.”
Leitch received the award for her outstanding contribution in the fight for the liberation of women and men who have endured and are still suffering domestic violence.

The Pepperpot Magazine sat down with Leitch, who shared her own life’s struggles with domestic violence and how she is inspiring men and women to stand up in the face of domestic violence.
“Given my personal experiences with domestic violence, I am a survivor of domestic violence and after going through that harrowing ordeal for a number of years, then I became a mother, [I realised] that I had little to no contact with my only child. [Then is when] I understood the challenges that victims of domestic violence face,” Leitch told the Pepperpot Magazine.

Leitch pointed to the fact that when persons who find themselves in situations of domestic violence are urged to leave the relationship, there are no safety programmes, or as she describes it, “resilience project programmes to help women who have survived a domestic violence situation to get back on their feet.”
This in her mind, gave her a better understanding of the pains, processes and the cycles that women go through, having gone through it herself.

“While I was going through my dark days, I always remember and I will quote him, Apostle Claude Brooks, in one of Samuel Medas’s songs, where there was mention of your day season and your night season. So I saw that abuse period as my night season, it was dark, alone, harsh. I lost a lot, inclusive of myself, child and family,” said Leitch.

She alluded that she used her experiences to tell women today that they can rise out of their pains: “Out of the ashes, I rise,” she said.
“There is a life after domestic violence, you can pick up the pieces, you can move on,” Valini noted during her interview.

Leitch continued to tell the story of her involvement with the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) Guyana, in 2017, when she decided to come off the board of SASOD and go on the frontline.
During this time, Leitch made mention of the fact that during her “dark days,” that a friend from the LGBTQ community was her main anchor of comfort, strength and support, as she battled through the tunnels of domestic violence.

“My award for the top 25 Influential Women is dedicated to all the sisters we would have [sic] lost along the way to domestic violence and to those suffering in silence,” Valini said.
She advised women, particularly those who find themselves in domestic violence situations, that there is an exit strategy, according to her, to put things in place and reach out to family and friends.

“In Guyana, we have many organisations ready and willing to assist and support women and girls who are victims of domestic violence. One such organisation is the National Coalition Organisation through their one-stop-shop initiative, where women and girls have access to pro bono legal support, as well as free psychosocial support to extend where we would even provide a safe space,” Leitch told the interview.
She encouraged alternative ways of conflict resolution and management.

According to an article posted by the Guyana Chronicle, dated August 9 , 2021, the 25 Influential Women awards were inaugurated in 2019 by the dynamic team of female leaders and entrepreneurs in their own right, Michelle A. Nicholas of NICO Consulting Inc. and Lyndell Danzie-Black of Cerulean Incorporated. The unique award turns the spotlight on women – with 25 awardees – being honoured for their passion and commitment to uplifting the business sector, their communities and society. Nomination forms for women who fit the criteria for recognition at this event are available on the 25 Influential Women Leaders Awards Facebook page and will be distributed widely through several organisations, the media and members of the public.