The Victoria Women’s Transition House not only provides support and shelter to women who have suffered from intimate partner violence and abuse.
It also provides emotional help to the often-overlooked victims — children who have witnessed or have been exposed to violence at an early age.
Children who witness intimate partner violence and abuse sometimes grow up to be abused or become abusive.
In an effort to break the cycle of violence in children and youth, the non-profit organization — which is supported by the Times Colonist Christmas Fund — offers a Prevention, Education, Advocacy, Counselling, Empowerment (PEACE) program, with counselling or a positive role model to follow.
“Children experience frightening and overwhelming emotions when they are exposed to harmful and abusive behaviour,” said Paulina Hakkarainen, PEACE program counsellor. “It affects their sense of self worth. A child needs emotional as well as physical safety and what this program does is to let them know that an adult ‘has their back’ to get past these things.”
The program supports children ages three to 18 and their caregiver/guardians with counselling and intervention programs to break the inter-generational cycle of abuse.
“Our program is as much for the adult as the child, as we address systemic change in gender-based violence and inter-generational abuse,” said Hakkarainen.
The team also does outreach to schools with Violence is Preventable, with age-appropriate presentations and interactive workshops for elementary, middle and secondary school students. In high schools, they teach children about dating violence, healthy relationships and personal boundaries.
The PEACE program has been quietly operating for decades, working with numerous adult survivors of families where intimate partner violence once disrupted their childhood.
“Children can survive being exposed to violence in their childhood if they feel safe and understood. They need to hear an adult they trust say: ‘I am here to listen. I believe in you. I will keep you safe. You are worthy,’ ” said Hakkarainen.
The Times Colonist Christmas Fund, which was started in 1956, raises funds that help people across Vancouver Island. So far, $577,513.02 has been raised toward this year's $1-million goal.
HOW TO DONATE
You can donate by going to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund web page at tcchristmasfund.com.
That page is linked to CanadaHelps, which is open 24 hours a day and provides an immediate tax receipt.
Or mail a cheque to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund, 201-655 Tyee Rd., Victoria, B.C. V9A 6X5.
You can also use your credit card by phoning 250-995-4438 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
