United Towards a Change

Women experiencing domestic violence are given comfort, support and hopethrough group therapy sessions at The Salvation Army in Tres Arroyos, Argentina.

Tres Arroyos Corps is located in the city of the same name in the Buenos Aires Province, around 600km south of the national capital. Domestic violence is a universal issue affecting people of all ages, social situations and genders, though the majority of cases involve male violence towards women. It continues to be a massively under-reported crime. In Tres Arroyos it is believed that reported cases represent only 25 per cent of the true total.

In general, female victims of domestic violence are abused by their partners who have an economic hold over them. This means they are obliged to stay in their homes with little hope of escape, or opportunity to protect themselves. In Argentina, women and girls aged between 15 and 24 years old represent 69 per cent of reported cases.

In Tres Arroyos there is a one-on-one counselling service which exists to support women experiencing domestic violence. However, with a large number of women reaching out for support, the demand far exceeds the capacity of the service and it is unable to offer long-term recovery support.

In response to the growing need, The Salvation Army has established ‘Unidas hacia un Cambio’ (United Towards a Change) groups to support women experiencing violence in the home. The group therapy sessions are facilitated by the corps officers along with a local psychologist and paediatrician who both specialise in domestic violence cases.

These groups provide a space of mutual support for women who are, or have been, victims of domestic violence. Women are cared for and listened to by the team and by the other group members. Whilst each woman’s story is different, they all have the

Sharing is the start of the healing process. As the women go on this journey, they can identify new perspectives and potential solutions to the problem, share resources which have helped them personally and dare to break down the cycle of violence that they are immersed in.

The emotional support network that group members create for one another is a lifeline for the women involved. Understanding that others have had similar experiences, yet have survived and flourished, is vital in bringing an end to the social isolation they have been living in.

Sofia* is a 34-year-old mother of two. She lives and works in Tres Arroyos.

Sofia had been living with her partner and their child for three years when he started to become increasingly verbally abusive. After an incidence of physical violence, they separated.

They were apart for nine months before reconnecting and having a second child together. But the violence got worse. During the pregnancy Sofia had to deal with rejection and violence from her partner who was constantly verbally abusive and beat her numerous times.

Eventually, Sofia was able to escape the abuse. She said,

‘I don’t know how, but after six years I made the decision to leave. But I never told anyone that he beat me.’

Sofia’s mother saw a brochure for the group counselling held at The Salvation Army centre. Her mother encouraged her to attend as she was afraid that Sofia would go back to her partner.

Sofia struggles with guilt that her children will grow up without a father. But through attending the group she has recognised that she and her children are much safer now. She says:

‘The group gave me guidance and people listened to me. Sometimes it was difficult for me to come, but they are always encouraging and want to know what is going on with me. I want to keep coming to the group because I feel better here, I feel good. I am very shy but I feel very good being in the group.’

Another element to the project is the ‘Learning Through Playing’ programme for children aged 7 to 14 years old. The programme uses activities to highlight issues around violence and encourages the young people to find non-violent alternatives to respond to different situations. Through the activities, young people are shown a better way to relate to others and express their feelings.

In this safe space, children, some of whom will have experienced violence in their own homes, are given the opportunity to develop healthy relationships and find positive role models. Through fun and engaging activities the project is working to help the next generation to break the cycle of violence within their families.

* Name has been changed & stock images used to protect identity