West End Women's Centre launches domestic violence program for newcomer women.
Representatives of the centre said that this program will be one of the three that are scheduled for launch. On Monday, the centre received its annual funding of $118,000 and plans to spend the money to combat domestic violence.
Statistics show that in Manitoba the level of domestic violence is much higher than in other provinces. This is especially true for women from the Indigenous population, women with disabilities, newcomers and LGBT2SQ+ people.
The new program, Healing Together, will be based on a ten week course Red Road to Healing. Red Road to Healing helped lots of Indigenous women over the past 10 years. The new program will be focused on newcomer women. Women who experience domestic violence will receive support and healing through cultural teachings, which will vary according to the women involved.
Healing Together will also be helpful for men who are perpetrators of violence and also for teenagers who witnessed domestic violence.
Lorie English, the centre's executive director, said that those who are perpetrators of violence most likely were victims themselves many years ago. That’s why they should be healed. Otherwise, intergenerational violence and trauma will never stop in families.
Jolene Wilson, a knowledge-keeper and community connector at the West Central Women's Resource Centre, knows herself how useful all programs in the centre are. She knocked the centre’s door many years ago, and since then her life has changed. The woman decided to work in the centre and help other women cope with their problems.
A new funding system will help people get on the program faster. Currently, more than 20 women are awaiting the next program. Only 10 women can undergo healing at the same time.
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