VOA常速英语2007年-Refuge Seeks to Protect Battered Women, Childre

By Zulima Palacio
Washington
21 November 2007
 

Domestic violence is a common problem in many parts of the world, and a private organization in Baltimore, Maryland is trying to do something about it. Those who know about it say the House of Ruth Maryland has changed the lives of thousands of women and their children. Producer Zulima Palacio visited the House of Ruth.  Barry Wood narrates¹ her story.

"Today my life is beautiful,” says “Brenda.”  “Once I got to the House of Ruth they taught me skills. How to love yourself was the first thing, and today I am an independent woman and doing very well for myself."

Brenda says five years ago she and her 11 children found refuge at the House of Ruth from her abusive husband. Like many battered² women, she asked not to be identified. "I stayed at the House of Ruth with my 11 children for 18 months." 

Brenda says she was afraid for her life and could not leave her children.  But once she and her family were safe, she says she got involved in therapy and education programs and learned skills that helped her get a job, go back to school and learn how to be self sufficient. 

"The House of Ruth was a turning point in my life," she says. Brenda is not alone.

Carol Alexander has been the director at the House of Ruth for the past 24 years. "One in four of us will be abused by an intimate partner during our lifetimes.  In an annual base, approximately 3,000 women are being murdered, victims of homicide at the hands of a partner," she tells us.

The House of Ruth has been a safe refuge for more than 100,000 women and children over the past 30 years. A group of women founded the Houses of Ruth with virtually no money, but it now has a growing number of volunteers and receives government aid and private donations totaling some $6 million a year.

Alexander says many women arrive at the shelter in the middle of the night with little more than their children and a garbage bag of clothing.  Most are emotionally devastated³. "I think we have saved countless⁴ numbers of lives of women.  I think we have enabled women, hundreds and hundreds of women, to go forward and rebuild their lives,” says Alexander. “I think we have enabled many, many children to do the same thing."

Today the House of Ruth has several locations in the state of Maryland.  The facilities include 84 beds and six transitional apartments where women can stay for up to two years under the organization's protection.  The House of Ruth's services include childcare, legal representation, therapy and training. There is also counseling for children aimed at stopping what Carol Alexander says is a circle of violence.

"What we learn at the knee of our father does repeat itself.  We have a program in schools where we are working to teach children about healthy relationships," the director explains.

Margarita also does not want her last named used. She is the House of Ruth's legal secretary. Just a few years ago, she and her two small children arrived poor, afraid and looking for help.  She says if she had stayed with her husband, she would probably be dead.  "You know what? I am now buying a house on my own. My car is paid off. On my own, my children are being raised.  You get through it, you will."

Carol Alexander says she believes passionately⁵ in the work the House of Ruth is doing and that it is a success. But she says society must change in order for people to stop using violence to vent⁶ their frustrations⁷.

1 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

2 battered   

adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损

参考例句：

• He drove up in a battered old car.他开着一辆又老又破的旧车。
• The world was brutally battered but it survived.这个世界遭受了惨重的创伤,但它还是生存下来了。

3 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

4 countless   

adj.无数的，多得不计其数的

参考例句：

• In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。
• I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。

5 passionately   

ad.热烈地，激烈地

参考例句：

• She could hate as passionately as she could love. 她能恨得咬牙切齿，也能爱得一往情深。
• He was passionately addicted to pop music. 他酷爱流行音乐。

6 vent   

n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄

参考例句：

• He gave vent to his anger by swearing loudly.他高声咒骂以发泄他的愤怒。
• When the vent became plugged,the engine would stop.当通风口被堵塞时，发动机就会停转。

7 frustrations   

挫折( frustration的名词复数 )； 失败； 挫败； 失意

参考例句：

• The temptation would grow to take out our frustrations on Saigon. 由于我们遭到挫折而要同西贡算帐的引诱力会增加。
• Aspirations will be raised, but so will frustrations. 人们会产生种种憧憬，但是种种挫折也会随之而来。