Manitoba
Violence Prevention Grants

Osborne House, Winnipeg
2008: $24,126
In response to a steady decrease (25%) in the number of calls to their shelter’s crisis line, Osborne House will develop transit ads featuring their crisis line phone number to publicize the service to women in need and to raise community awareness of domestic violence. 

Mount Carmel Clinic, Winnipeg
2008: $25,000
Biindigen or "Come in you're welcome" provides a welcoming place for women involved in the sex trade.  This is phase three of a long-term project which will expand its response to two main crime and victimization issues: the safety of women involved in the sex trade, and the safety of children who travel to school in areas where sex trade activities are visible. This initiative will offer life and employment skills, and exit strategy opportunities for women involved in the sex trade. It will also build community capacity in the North End of Winnipeg by engaging parents and other concerned adults in a safety project that accompanies children on their walk to school. 

Survivor’s Hope Crisis Centre, Pinawa
2008: $25,000 (2005: $12,500)
This program educates students aged 11 to 17 about healthy relationships. Topics explored include gender stereotyping, sexual harassment, root causes of violence against women and girls, respectful relationships, bullying and homophobia. Peer support groups also help fellow students access services.

Women's Safe Haven Resource Service, Flin Flon (2006: $23,000, 2007: $23,000)
This program teaches youth (both male and female) how to recognize the signs of abuse before becoming involved in a relationship. Most participants are of Aboriginal descent and come from northern communities where no secondary education is available. CWF’s grant is supporting the services of a Youth Counsellor/ Resource Worker who provides one-on-one counselling. Participants have the opportunity to bring up topics they would like to discuss and plan goals for their groups. Two-hour sessions are offered to all youth aged 11 to 19 over 10-12 weeks.

Eyaa-Keen Centre Inc., Winnipeg (2005: $12,500, 2006: $10,000, 2007: $21,200)
"Reclaiming My Life", part of the "Being Me, Being Free" series, teaches Aboriginal women holistic and culturally-appropriate techniques to release the pain of sexual, physical, and mental abuse, so that they can move on to become better parents, partners and Aboriginal community members. Twenty five to thirty participants attend two three-day sessions. Transportation is included so that all women in the community have access.

Samaritan House Ministries Inc., Brandon: $5,449 (2005)
The Spirit of Healing Support Group is offered to women who have experienced childhood sexual abuse. High numbers of women have participated in this program which is the only free group program in the community where women can talk about past issues of child sexual abuse and feel heard and validated. The program incorporates clay, paint, collage and music help participants express their emotions. The aim of the Spirit of Healing group is to provide information, validation, safety, a means of honouring loss and means of expressing feelings through the use of a group setting and hands-on approach.

Survivors Hope Crisis Centre Inc., Pinawa: $12,500 (2005)
This program educates students in grades nine through 12 about abusive vs. healthy relationships, self-esteem, self-protection, sexual harassment, dating violence, gender stereotypes, respect and communication. Peer support groups will be developed in each school and trained to help fellow students access services.

North End Women’s Centre (NEWC), Winnipeg $10,000 (2004)
“Creating Healthy Relationships” is a pilot education project that teaches young women how to recognize and prevent an abusive relationship. They will learn about the negative effects of abuse and acquire effective communication techniques to reject abusive behaviour in intimate relationships. Activities will include talking circles on healthy relationships, group discussions on feminist theory, discussions on co-dependency i.e. being in a relationship with a person who abuses substance. Social and crafting activities will also be organized to allow women to share their personal experiences in a less structured environment.

Miriam Centre/Centre Miriam, Winnipeg: $15,700 (2004)
The Girls Group project provides education on violence prevention and safety, and works to raise self-esteem and self-awareness in 12 to 17-year-old girls. The project is offered in Winnipeg and Ile des Chênes, a francophone community in rural Manitoba. Many participants face challenges, such as addiction, mental illness or eating disorders. Project participants are recruited through their schools and identify their own learning needs. They acquire leadership skills by assisting in facilitation, and through this, discover their own voice and learn to stand up for their rights.