Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter
Ionie Whorms of the Inner-City Counselling Centre outside her home in Fletcher's Land, downtown Kingston. - PHOTO BY ROSS SHEIL
BASED IN Fletcher's Land, Kingston, the Inner-City Counselling Centre is a negative turned positive.
Ionie Whorms, 42-year-old chief executive officer and mother of five, was a former fashion model turned crack addict. But two years of selling herself to feed her habit proved too much.
After confronting her own problems, she decided to help others; her own experience and survival being an example to them.
With her volunteers, she works the streets at night, the red light districts of downtown and uptown. They give condoms and advice to sex workers and drug addicts. She has 300 clients on her files and assists about 1,000 persons per month. Some even come to live at her home where she maintains a strict 'one-strike and you're out' policy.
She talks about the project:
The condom lady a come!
"They all recognise me for what I do. I have all sorts of names, 'the HIV and drugs lady' as well. They know we are there to help.
"It's been 12 years doing this and it's my friends who motivate me. We're helping with our own resources and any time I can't provide for myself, someone steps in. But still I can't think of any other CEO who shares their food and home with recovering addicts and HIV-positive people!
"We are almost like an outreach centre. You have a person who needs some zinc for their house and we try and help. We network with other agencies on a range of social issues and we refer them to people like Food for the Poor.
"This all started with the support of the community. At first there was doubt and stigma because of what I had been but they saw I was serious and they have supported and when they need it, we help.
"I have a passion for people but I wouldn't have been doing this if I hadn't gone through this myself. As you see me you get me; We've been recognised for our work and have had support from the likes of UNICEF, UNAIDS and the U.S. Embassy.
"The fact is that I am just an ordinary inner-city woman who has gone through things and I am proud to say I am 15 years clean.
"Any assistance is welcome and right now we really need someone with project writing skills.
"A vehicle would be a great help and make us more mobile since we work anywhere in Jamaica that asks for us."
For more information contact: 806-2211, 370-4055 or visit office at 155 Church Street.
Send information about your volunteer organisation to: ross.sheil@gleanerjm.com
