Impact > Women as Peacemakeres
Project: Women as Peacemakers
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Centro Mujeres’ clients are generally single women with children, many of whom are recent immigrants. Their ages range from late teens to the elderly. All have limited education and limited English language skills. Many are victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse, alcoholism or drugs. This group of women is generally difficult to reach because most of them do not easily trust in the system and lack self esteem. Centro Mujeres has become a safe place where women can come to share their stories, become confident in themselves and learn a skill.
The center offers a non-threatening way for women to become involved. The women have many choices in the classes they can participate in such as; quilting, flower arranging, hair cutting, cake decorating, yoga, English (ESL) class and computer literacy. They can also attend other, more life changing workshops that include “Learning to Earn”, “Valores y Vida” or “Values and Life,” “Women as Peacemakers” and a Women’s Spirituality Conference. FWF funded “Women as Peacemakers” one of the support programs that assists women in developing healthy positive behaviors in their daily relationships. Centro Mujeres has worked diligently to increase awareness of the Center as a resource for women in family violence situations. One critical change that is occurring is the increased knowledge among women that they do have choices. Many have stayed in these relationships because their husbands have threatened to deport them. Now they are learning that they have legal options. Centro Mujeres provides counseling through support groups, advises them on their rights and what they can do to defend themselves. Some of the most vulnerable women, those who would never have told anyone about the violence in their lives, now find “esperanza” or “hope” in our organization. |
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