About us
The Empower Change Hub is a one-of-a-kind collaboration between the Afghan Women's Organization, a trailblazer in pushing for women's rights and socioeconomic development for all newcomers, and York University, a renowned institution devoted to knowledge advancement and global connectivity. This relationship draws on the knowledge of both organizations to deliver comprehensive support and aims to create normative change around gender-based violence (GBV).
About the Project
The Afghan Women Organization (AWO), in collaboration with the Center of Refugee Studies at York University, embarked on an innovative 26-month initiative aimed at creating normative change around gender-based violence (GBV) in newcomer communities as a step to the prevention of violence. Access the full project report by clicking 'Download' to gain insights and details on our findings
Preventing gender-based violence (GBV) is not a one-size-fits-all task. It requires understanding the deep-rooted cultural and societal factors that lead to violence and how they affect survivors’ ability and willingness to seek help. That's where our project stands out. We have developed the Empower Change Hub, a Toolkit navigator meticulously designed to serve as a practical guide for service providers and community leaders engaged in gender-based violence (GBV) prevention efforts.
This Empower Change Hub streamlines the process of planning and implementing effective activities and interventions by offering a diverse range of thoroughly curated toolkits. It significantly reduces the time and effort required to source, plan, and implement effective and culturally appropriate activities and interventions aimed at combating GBV. A key feature of this navigator is its focus on cultural adaptability. The Empower Change Hub Toolkit navigator provides guidance on how to tailor the listed resources for use within diverse communities. This adaptability ensures that service providers can more effectively customize their approaches to meet the specific needs and cultural contexts of the populations they serve, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of GBV prevention strategies and nurturing positive normative change.
The project team worked with peer leaders, and consulted with service users, service providers, and community leaders from focus communities to delve into the root causes of violence, identify barriers to accessing services, and determine culturally sensitive adaptations that may be necessary. Through consultations with our four primary communities of focus were Afghan, Iranian, Iraqi, and Syrian, we were able to identify the unique needs of and the gaps in services in order to develop a tool that could support progressive dialogue about GBV in newcomer communities.
Explore the Pillars of Change
Engagement of Men and Boys with Women and Girls: Engaging men and boys is key to changing societal norms and in preventing violence. Their participation is critical in reshaping attitudes and behaviors towards a more equitable society.
Addressing the Different Forms of Violence: Recognizing the full spectrum of violence is vital, ranging from physical to psychological impacts. Interventions should be comprehensive, addressing each manifestation of violence effectively.
Empowering Women: Initiatives aimed at empowerment provide women with the necessary resources, skills, and opportunities to assert their rights and make independent decisions. Such efforts position women as key agents of change within their communities.
Building Trust in New Communities and the System: Trust-building is crucial in new communities, especially among immigrant and refugee women. Creating inclusive environments ensures they feel safe and supported, enhancing their confidence in assistance systems.
The Role of Religion as a Catalyst for Positive Change: The power of religious teachings and leadership can significantly promote gender equality and non-violence. The alignment of religious teachings and collaboration of religious leadership is critical to normative change around GBV.
