NORWICH – Catholic Charities of Chenango County’s Crime Victims Program will host a special educational event focusing on interpersonal violence and support for both victims of violence and the service providers who fight it, from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the community room of Guernsey Memorial Library, 3 Court St.

According to Crime Victims Program Director Daniel Auwarter, Samantha Wackford will be the night’s featured speaker. Wackford, in April of 2002, was severely injured when an attacker splashed acid onto her face and body, just two weeks prior to her graduation from high school in her homeland of Guyana, South America.

Said Auwarter, “Sam’s an example of a person who has overcome tragedy at the hands of an abusive partner and has chosen to dedicate her life to helping others who are affected by violence.”

Crime Victims Program community educator and victim advocate June McIntyre-Georgia said she found it wonderful that Wackford is willing to come forward, calling her a courageous young woman.

“When it happened, I thought my life was over,” said Wackford of the attack, committed by a man hired by a jealous ex-boyfriend. “It shattered my dreams, my hopes and all of the goals I had for myself.”

Instead, Wackford is now a college graduate, after she recently received an associate’s degree from Morrisville State College’s Norwich Campus.