VISHANNA PHAGOO

Twenty-year-old Britney Ramnarine has made it easier for victims of sexual assault to get help and support. Ramnarine, a sexual assault survivor herself, has launched the Sexual Assault Survivors Stand (Sass) app through which victims can seek and get support to deal with their trying circumstances.

She told Sunday Newsday's WMN magazine this is her way of offering the safe space she didn't have when she needed it. The app is free and available on android devices. At the launch of the app, on May 25 at Signature Hall, Montrose, Chaguanas, an emotional Ramnarine shared her stories with the audience.

Her sexual assault experiences first began when she was 13 and happened on three different occasions. She said the assaults left her feeling powerless and violated and she said she felt like she couldn't speak up at the time given the circumstances. She said at that time all she wanted was reassurance – to know that what happened to her wasn't her fault and to be reminded that her body still belonged to her and no one else. After a suicide attempt, Ramnarine informed her parents of what she was going through and thankfully, they were 100 per cent on her side and got her the help she needed.

Sass, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), was originally a social media page on Instagram started in November 2020. It was created after her friends advised her to think about what she had a strong, burning passion for, and helping sexual assault victims was the first idea that came to mind. She said creating the page and now, an app, feels like her way of getting justice by proving to her assaulters that they won't stifle her voice or get away with what they've done.

[caption id="attachment_958179" align="alignnone" width="720"] Arianne Mohammed and Britney Ramnarine at the launch of Sexual Assault Survivors Stand app at Signature Hall, Montrose, Chaguanas. -[/caption]

"I know that it's really hard and you feel alone like you've lost your innocence and your body no longer belongs to you but that's not the case. Your body belongs to you, and you can overcome this," she had told those present at the launch.

"If there was something like this that existed when I needed it and was going through a rough time, then it could have been a big assistance. I felt alone and like I had no support around me. This app can provide support and guidance to those in need."

After the page's debut, she was surprised it had got 1,000 followers in two weeks. It now has over 5,000 followers and the numbers continue to grow daily. She said she gets an average of 60 responses per month and in some instances, are over 100.

"I was so scared this would fail or I wasn't fit enough to run this organisation. I would second guess myself because talking about sexual assault this much can take a toll and bring up memories, but I was able to push through. I started it and I'm not letting it fail."

Ramnarine said the creation of the app allows victims to reach out to each other for support and get help from officers of the Gender-