About
this Newsletter and EWA...
Education
Wife Assault began developing and delivering
programs on preventing violence in dating
relationships for young women and men in 1987. Most
of the material developed by EWA and other groups
across North America in the 1980s presented the
issues from the perspective of western norms on
dating and sexuality. As the faces and experiences
of young Canadians changed, our programming also
needed to change.
For
example, in the late 1980s I was asked to speak to a
group of Grade 9 students on dating violence and the
meaning of consent in sexual relationships. I began
by asking the students how many were already dating.
Half the hands went up. The discussion was lively
and relevant. Several years later I was invited back
to the same school for the same reason. This time I
knew as soon as I walked into the classroom that the
teacher had not asked her students about the
relevance of the topic in their lives. When I asked
this culturally diverse group of young people how
many were dating, only one hand went up. The way
violence was manifesting itself in these students’
lives was different from the reality several years
earlier. We talked about racism, cultural
stereotypes, the generation gap with parents and
others in their community, sexual harassment, and
the use of cultural norms by some of the young men
to control ‘their’ young women’s behaviour.
In
fact, we know that young women experience the full
range of violent acts from bullying to sexual
harassment to dating violence, at times resulting in
death or permanent injury. A recent Toronto survey
shows that female youth regard physical assault,
discrimination, harassment, and sexual gender issues
as three of the top four factors impacting their
personal sense of safety. (City of Toronto Report,
2002) Youth differently situated by race, class,
sexual orientation, and disabilities are victimized
more often. Our programs, therefore, need to address
differential impact as well as gender differences in
who perpetuates and who is victimized by violence.
In
2002, EWA established a separate program for young
women rather than continuing to include projects
aimed at 16- to 24-year-olds in our general
public-education program. It had become clear that
we not only need gender-specific programs, but also
age-specific programs. Teens and young adults are
concerned about autonomy. They want control of their
own lives and therefore rarely confide in older
adults. Yet their reliance on peers means that they
are often unable to access the information, support,
and interventions needed to eliminate violence from
their lives. The City of Toronto Report (2002)
stated that young women require approaches and
programs that are responsive to their unique needs
and ways of relating. The enclosed pullout ’zine,
created by participants in EWA’s YAWA (Young
Accents Against Woman Abuse) project, is an example
of the type of material young adults want to use in
their programs.
The
young women who most need to learn about violence
prevention are often the most difficult to reach.
Young women may face barriers to speaking out about
violence, including language and cultural barriers,
discrimination, and lack of access to resources.
Many young women—especially young women in
marginalized communities, who face multiple barriers
to civic participation and access to services—are
not being adequately served by programs currently
offered through school initiatives. Violence can be
profoundly disempowering, limiting young women’s
growth in every area of their lives. While it
is important to continue developing and implementing
school-based violence-prevention programs and
activities, the articles in this newsletter show the
need to reach young women in the places they
frequent, such as community and recreational
centers. The voices of the YAWA women challenge and
inspire those of us in the over-50 crowd. It is
incumbent upon us to listen, rise to the challenges
they present, and follow their inspiring leadership.
~
Marsha Sfeir
EWA
News
Supporting
a New Generation of Leaders
Fran
Odette, EWA’s manager of the Women with
Disabilities and Deaf Women’s program, is one of
24 emerging leaders selected for a scholarship worth
$6800. To strengthen the skills and scope of these
exceptional individuals, the George Cedric Metcalf
Foundation and United Way of Greater Toronto have
partnered with the Schulich School of Business at
York University to present a unique certificate
program called Emerging Leaders.
The
Emerging Leaders program provides a supportive,
stimulating learning experience delivered through 16
classroom sessions, two two-night retreats, two
half-day workshops, and two days of off-site
learning activities. University faculty, subject
experts, and experienced practitioners will lead
participants through hands-on workshops and
peer-based learning.
Nominated
by EWA’s executive director, Fran was selected
from over 90 applicants. EWA has agreed to cover the
cost of materials and to allow Fran to take work
time off to attend. Congratulations, Fran.
We
All Win!
Education
Wife Assault is the 2005 recipient of The Greer
Memorial Award. Established in 1947 in memory of
Ontario educator Dr. VK Greer, the Ontario Teachers
Federation annually grants a sum from the Greer
Foundation to an individual or organization
prominent in education. On April 9, 2005 EWA
received the Greer Award “in recognition of
outstanding service to Ontario education.”
Vijitha
Mahalingan and Thuvasini Anbalagan, active members
of EWA Young Women’s Program through Teens Against
Violence, our ongoing partnership with Parkdale
Collegiate Institute, received 2005 Status of Women
Equity Awards from Ontario Secondary School
Teachers’ Federation District 12. Congratulations
on these ambitious women’s achievements and cheers
for their future work for all young women’s equity
and freedom from violence!
Goodbyes
and Hellos
EWA
has had several staff changes this past year. Joanne
Bacon, past Volunteer Program coordinator and
project manager, left to pursue other interests and
develop creatively.
During her six years with us, Jo initiated
the Women with Disabilities Program and began
EWA’s focused work on abuse of older women. We
miss her energy, passion, and input into program
development, while anxiously awaiting a show
featuring her ceramics and homemade goods.
Neslyn
Burgess, former publications distributor, is now a
day counselor at Vita Community Services. Nes began
with EWA as a student in 1996, was subsequently
hired on contract, and eventually became a staff
member. After nine years of ensuring that
individuals and organizations received the
information and materials they needed on violence
against women, Neslyn’s reliable service and ready
smile will be missed. Publications are now in the
hands of Erna Opeña, EWA’s administrative
assistant.
Yukyung
Kim-Cho, Volunteer and Young Women’s Program
coordinator, left EWA at the end of May 2005.
Yukyung brought commitment, new energy, humour, and
selfless dedication to EWA’s programs. She
expanded and diversified our volunteer base, and
often filled the office with the enthusiasm and new
ideas of young women. In June, Yukyung returned to
South Korea, where she plans to work in support of
female migrant workers and hopes to contribute to
women’s transnational solidarity. We will miss her
spirit and endless contributions to the work for
women’s equality rights, and wish her success and
joy in these new undertakings.
While
it is hard to say goodbye to these amazing women,
change enables us to welcome others who will help
EWA continue its work. Our new Volunteer and Young
Women’s Program coordinator is Patricia Lee.
Patricia is an anti-violence activist, independent
film maker, and former project coordinator at the
Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG-Toronto).
We look forward to working with her and benefiting
from the innovative ideas she brings to the program.
Many
Thank You’s
As
part of EWA’s 25th
anniversary celebrations in October 2004, many
individuals made donations in honour of people who
have worked to promote healthy and equitable
relationships. The following were received after the
event and were not published in the anniversary
booklet:
“In
honour of my mother, Mrs. Netta Herd, who was an
assaulted wife for 11 years, and her five children
who were exposed to the abuse.”
~ Her daughter
Elizabeth
“In
honour of Marsha Sfeir. Thank you for your
unflagging dedication and exceptional leadership in
the important movement to end violence against
women.”
~ Mary Susan
MacDonald
“I
wish EWA continued success. You are a great
organization.”
~ Della Dwane
“In
honour of the staff at EWA.”
~
Marilda Tselepis
“In
honour of Michele Landsberg for the many years you
have used your gifts to benefit so many and always
with great passion and good humour.”
~
Devoted readers, Susie Whelehan
and Francis Corrigan
Thanks
again to the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of
Ontario as we move into the second year of their
five-year commitment to fund this newsletter. Thanks
also to the United Way Freedom from Violence
Granting Program and the Canadian Women’s
Foundation for generously supporting EWA’s Young
Women’s Program.
The
EWA Young Women’s Program deeply appreciates the
free workshop space, child-care facility, and access
to the community kitchen for the summer Integrated
Art Project with young women peer educators,
provided by the Social Justice Committee of Bloor
Street United Church. Many thanks also to Sau Wai R.
Tai, the project co-facilitator who made the
connection.
Last but
definitely not least, EWA volunteers
very gratefully
acknowledge the donation of coffee for the past year
from Starbuck’s manager Anna Kowalczyk. Thank you
Anna: You have kept us going!
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