Trinidadian author offers books to help other victims of sexual abuse

For persons who have been victims of sexual abuse, Trinidadian author Cheryl Ann Gajhadar is offering her two-book series to help ease what they are going through.

The books, “The Girl in the Cupboard” and “Mom is that You? The Open Cupboard,” are real life accounts of her abuse at the age of five years and the subsequent abuse by her foster mother at 12 years old.

Despite the disturbing reality of the factual accounts, the books are very concise and are written in a matter-of-fact approach about what she endured.

Gajhadar said this style of writing makes it easier to bear the reality of her abuse and highlight a serious, but taboo topic affecting children.

Chapter 2, of “The Girl in the Cupboard” says: “While barely five years old, Annie was continually sexually abused. She recalled the times that she had to go to her aunt’s home where her mother would take her to meet with men from whom she would get money.”

The books are a hit in aTrinidad and are currently on sale in St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados.

She explained that she knows the books are helping many affected children.

“’The Girl in the Cupboard’ is also being used as a case study and Part 2 has a lot of [anti]-suicide tips. The book, actually, is still helping a lot of young people. I meet children that say that I have your book over my bed head and it helps them and it motivates them to want to to tell their story, to even come out and say enough is enough. I have been there and I am not going to stay in that situation anymore. I am special, I am loved, I am somebody,” the Trinidadian author said.

She elaborated that she started writing the books at the age of 30 and the writing process helped her release the hidden pain that she was feeling.

Today, she is a member of a church body and is visiting St Vincent and the Grenadines to give testimony at a local church conference. She said the local accounts she has heard of during the conference have been overwhelming.

“I met a young child and I also heard of many instances of being pregnant from St Vincent here…actually when I went on the radio on Xtreme, a lot of people were calling in and making comments concerning what is going on here.

“…Sexual abuse, molestation goes on everywhere, but I believe that my work, coming here is just a beginning…to help to touch a lot of lives,” Gajhadar said.

She has also written a student’s work book and manual that outlines ways a child can avoid being a target of sexual abuse and how to go about handling being a victim of abuse. Gajhadar has met a Ministry of Education official, in the hope of having these student workbooks added to our local curriculum. She believes the workbook will equip parents, social workers and teachers to better support victims of sexual abuse.

The books are currently available in St Vincent and the Grenadines from Amanda Burke at 531-9350 at EC$30 and $40 respectively.(CB)