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My Volunteering Experience at My Sister’s Closet

Dec 9, 2013 | 16 Days Activism Against Gender Violence, My Sister's Closet, Volunteer

Violence Against Women does not only impact the woman. It impacts all who surround her. If she is a mother, violence against her will affect her child(ren) and her relationship with them. In Canada there are estimated 3,000 women with their 2,900 children who flee their homes from violence and stay at transition houses each year.

At BWSS, we recognize that women are often at the centre of the family, the community. What is done to her will ripple out to who she is connected to. Thus, in our work with women who are mothers, we explore the impact of violence on her, her children, and on her relationship as a parent. This exploration often provides insight, information, resources, and tools that empower who she is as a woman, as a mother. The transformation from disempowerment to empowerment gets modelled and seeps into her connection and parenting with her child(ren), feeding their sense of self and ways of being, feeling, and acting.

We are grateful for Mia’s sharing because it not only illustrates how by empowering women we strengthen our community. It also shows us that experiencing and/or witnessing violence does not mean “forever damaged”, a view held by some. Violence against women is a horrid experience done by another often a loved one that negatively impacts the whole being, true. However, it does not have to define and dictate who and how you are, there are ways to overcome the impact and reclaim the power to be your own person and to be the one in control of your life. Mia’s story shows us just that. Thank you Mia.

My Volunteering Experience at My Sister’s Closet

by Mia K., My Sister’s Closet Volunteer

mia_volunteeringExpMSC_1My memories of My Sister’s Closet and BWSS reach back into my childhood. As a kid growing up with a single mom, we always found great prices at My Sister’s Closet. I was so happy to get books and toys that we would not have been able to afford brand new. I distinctly remember when my mom went to a BWSS parenting workshop and I played and ate noodles while I waited for her. After that workshop, my mom changed the way we did things at home and thanks to that parenting workshop, I grew up with the mentality that if we live together we must help each other out and not just force one person to do all the work. I also began to develop independent life skills that are preparing me for life as an adult.

My mom has a sheet of paper that she got from BWSS that says “model of a healthy relationship”. She taped it to our storage room wall and I remember as a child reading it curiously, not knowing where it came from, but still storing what I read in my mind. Every time I walked into the storage room I saw that paper, and eventually it became ingrained in me. Today, having realized how I and those around me deserve to be treated, I make sure all my relationships abide by that model.

equality wheelDomestic Abuse Intervention Programs

I started volunteering at My Sister’s Closet this past April 2013. I decided to come to My Sister’s Closet because I knew what it stands for and supports, having shopped there before, and wanted to give back to community the best way I could. It has been wonderful experience. I do not only work with great clothes, but also work with many wonderful people with different skills and personalities. In the past, I had trouble fitting in, particularly in high school, but My Sister’s Closet feels just like a community. Everyone has something different to bring to the table; everyone has a different way to solve a problem. The volunteers at My Sister’s Closet are a diverse group and it is a joy every time I meet a different volunteer.

Mia---My-Sisters-Closet-2

 At My Sister’s Closet I learn to be accommodating because everyone has a different opinion. I develop my skills as a team player rather than an individual worker as I would usually do. We each play our strengths and cover for each other’s weaknesses and this is what makes a team work well. Coming to volunteer at the store feels like a breath of fresh air amidst the constant flood of schoolwork. I always feel like I am doing something useful when I am able to come in and leave my frustrations behind to be surrounded by everyone’s good energy, whether that be on shift, just coming into shop, or at a volunteer network meeting. Thanks to My Sister’s Closet, I feel such emotional fulfillment that material things could not give me; the fact that.

Learn more about My Sister’s Closet, social enterprise of BWSS here.

My Sister's Closet on Instagram

 

Last year, Battered Women’s Support Services responded to over 10,000 crisis calls from women and girls to get help and end violence. We could not provide this essential support without your contribution.

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Help End Violence Against Women

Jul 9, 2013 | Battered Women's Support Services, Volunteer

Prevention and Intervention Training Program 2013

BWSS Violence Prevention and Intervention Training 2013Twice a year BWSS offers training for women who want to volunteer on our Crisis and Intake line to provide crisis support to women survivors of violence.
Participants will learn:

  • Crisis Intervention
  • Peer Counselling and Communication
  • Theoretical Framework of Violence Against Women
  • Group Facilitation and Group Design
  • Criminal, Family and Immigration Law
  • Anti-Oppression Analysis
  • Safety Planning
  • and more…

Information sessions:

Tuesday, July 30th • 6:00pm
Thursday, August 1st • 3:30pm

Training Session:

September 20th to December 6th
To Register or for more information call
Emma at 604 687 1868 ext. 312
or email: intake@bwss.org

Join Battered Women’s Support Services

and provide support to women survivors of violence on our Crisis and Intake line, facilitate support groups for women survivors of violence, work in our retail program, deliver workshops for youth, participate in special projects.

 

Voices from the Front Line

Nov 2, 2012 | Battered Women's Support Services, BWSS Programs, Volunteer

Facilitating the BWSS Drop in Group

by Yvonne Prochaska

I have completed the great opportunity of facilitating the drop-in support group for ten weeks here at BWSS. This has been my first experience facilitating a support group and although it has been quite brief, I expect that I will look back on it over time to digest and assess the learning that it has provided me as I embark on a path of wanting to aid in the healing of others and myself.

Facilitating this group has been both rewarding and challenging. I have enjoyed experiencing other women and their stories, as well as how they are able to identify common experiences among one another and provide support when they feel they are able. I have found it reassuring that many of the women who have come to the drop in group have been open to discuss some painful experiences, and have been understanding, respectful of and patient with others. I have found comfort through women taking the courage to ask me about my personal experiences. I have felt validated by the attention I have been given, and the amount of appreciation.  I have been shown for my thoughts and words. It has been great for me to see women coming back after their first session; that they have given me the chance to get to know them a little bit better.

The challenges come from the unpredictability of the group. You never know what issues women will bring or how many women will come to group. Flexibility on the part of the instructor is extremely important, as is the ability to observe and listen to the group with open curiosity; share ideas on how to discuss the topic(s) constructively to provide the women with support, understanding and validation of their feelings and experiences; as well as knowledge of resources that will help the women regain balance in their lives.

Overall, I have been surprised at the ease with which conversation flows in the group, and how it benefits not only the women participating in the group but myself as well. This experience has taught me a lot about myself and has created an opportunity for me to learn about some of the areas in which I would like to grow both personally and as an effective facilitator.

Social Media for Social Change Volunteers!

Oct 20, 2010 | Battered Women's Support Services, Volunteer

StrategicInterventions

Social Media for Social Change!!

Battered Women’s Support Services is looking for Online Community and Social Media Volunteers

Our ideal candidates are self-proclaimed social networking “Experts in Training” who actively use Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and other Web 2.0 platforms. We are looking for women and men who know what is hot now and are willing to explore what is next. You should have a passion for exploring cutting edge social networking platforms!

In these exciting newly created roles, you will work with our Communications Team to expand the online social media presence for:

1.    Battered Women’s Support Services,
2.    The Violence Stops Here – Men Stopping Violence’
3.    My Sister’s Closet – a social enterprise of Battered Women’s Support Services’
4.    Ending Violence Blog and
5.    Youth Engagement in Violence Prevention

You will embrace the brand online, help design and then carry the message crafted by the Communication Team. In this important role, you will be responsible for professionally representing our commitment to using social media for social change!!

Responsibilities:

  • In collaboration with and with direction from the Communications Team launch, manage and expand social media and online presence.
  • Work to ensure proper messaging is being executed online and is relevant to organizational goal social change goals.
  • Support and protect a provincial, nationally and expanding globally recognized brand by ensuring positive messaging is maintained in community.
  • Establish consistency of message across multiple networks while tailoring messaging for our constituents.
  • Manage online discussions by listening to constituents, reading between the lines, and responding in a timely manner to constituents needs and requests.
  • Monitor and track discussion topics for Communications Team.
  • You will be able to commitment to volunteering four to eight hours a week for three to six months, flexible hours and be quickly accessible by phone and email.

Skills:

  • An interest and demonstrated commitment to ending violence against women
  • Willingness to learn and adopt an anti-oppression feminist analysis of violence against women
  • Must have active accounts across key social media sites including, but not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
  • Must have exceptional traditional writing and grammatical skills and a flair for using "social networking speak" and online jargon.
  • Excellent verbal communication skills with ability to present ideas and information clearly.
  • Extreme attention to detail.
  • Collaborative team player able to integrate with a diverse team full of opinions and ideas.
  • Online search expert able to track and monitor postings relevant to the brand.
  • Demonstrated skills preferred in anti-violence work, journalism or new media.
  • Diligent work ethic and insatiable desire to expand skills and be the best.

For more information or to apply:
Email strategicinterventions@bwss.org

THANK YOU to Battered Women’s Support Services Volunteers

Mar 19, 2010 | Battered Women's Support Services, Volunteer

Battered Women’s Support Services would like to say a big THANK YOU to all the volunteers who play such an essential role in helping our organization provide support and advocacy services to women and work on systemic change.  Last night, to honour the women and all their work, BWSS held a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.  Thank you to Pondok Restaurant and Nancy Pang for helping make the night possible and lots of fun. The room was filled with 75 strong women who dedicate their time and effort to BWSS and to ending the violence against women by contributing to our Crisis and Intake Program, Women’s Support Group Program, Retail Program and our Office Volunteer Program.  The evening was filled with inspiration, laughter, singing and dancing.  It was a memorable night that could not have been possible without each and every one of you.  From everyone at BWSS, thank you for volunteering your time with us and contributing to help end violence against women.

Retail Program Volunteer Program Co-ordinator

Feb 26, 2009 | Battered Women's Support Services, Internal and External Posting, Volunteer

Internal and External Posting

Retail Program Volunteer Co-ordinator
Full-time 40 Hours Weekly Tuesday to Saturday 10 am to 6 pm Evenings & Weekends are required
$17.60 per hour
The BWSS Volunteer Co-ordinator plans, implements oversees the day to day operation of the volunteer program for the Retail Program.  Supervises women volunteers.  Retail volunteer program includes customer service, sales, cash, merchandising, visual merchandising, warehouse, distribution, promotion and gala.  Works as a member of Retail Program Team and services include, volunteer co-ordination, retail sales and service, warehouse and distribution, merchandising and visual merchandising, clothing and hamper voucher programs, information and providing assistance to women accessing Fashion Dollar programs

Key Responsibilities:

• Plans, develops, implements and evaluates all Volunteer Co-ordination activities with Manager of Retail Services and Programs.
• Recruits, trains, schedules and supervises women volunteers for coverage within all aspects of Retail Program as outlined by Leadership Team ensuring full coverage of fully trained women volunteers for visual merchandising, sales and customer services, warehouse and distribution, gala’s, promotion and marketing, special events and community outreach.
• Delivers volunteer co-ordination activities, as program demands require, in accordance with the BWSS Statement of Philosophy, BWSS Feminist Ethics and BWSS Retail Program Standards.
• Supervises women volunteers by training, ensuring they have adequate support and providing feedback on performance.
• Assists customers with purchases and completes sales during peak periods and provides coverage where gaps in coverage exist.
• Formulates program policies and procedures and evaluates volunteer program in consultation with supervisor
• Assists with the pick-up and distribution of stock with all BWSS Retail locations with program vehicle when required.
• Promotes public awareness of and support for the Retail Volunteer Program by producing promotional materials and attending community events.
• Assists with the development of communication, reporting and recording keeping systems for the Retail Volunteer Program.
• Prepares reports and statistics on Retail Volunteer Program for submission to Leadership Team.
• Facilitates communication with other feminist organizations concerned with violence against women and anti-oppression
• Adheres to the constitution, statement of philosophy, policies and procedures of the Society.
• Reports to the Manager of Retail Services and Programs
• Strives to create trusting, respectful and supportive relationships with the Leadership Team, other BWSS staff and volunteers.
Qualifications

The BWSS Retail Program Volunteer Co-ordinator must have a:
• Minimum two years of experience in a retail environment.
• Minimum two years recent supervisory or administrative experience.
• Minimum two years recent experience managing volunteers.
• Class 5 Drivers License
• Sound ability to plan and prioritize.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Computer literacy Excel and Word
• Strong commitment and aptitude for teamwork.
• Strong feminist analysis of violence against women
• Strong anti-oppression commitment, awareness and analysis and demonstrated ability to apply analysis
• Knowledge and experience working with survivors of historic racism and the impact of colonization and residential school.
• Demonstrated cultural competency including awareness of diverse marginalized communities in the Lower Mainland and ability to work with women from various cultural communities.
• Satisfactory criminal record checks.

The BWSS Retail Program Volunteer Co-ordinator will also:
• Have experience in women’s organization and non-profit society environments
• Have excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Have proven ability to work co-operatively with colleagues and service provider in the community.
• Be personable, flexible and self-directed.
This position requires union membership.

Application Process & Deadline

All expressions of interest must be received by 5 pm March 9, 2009.  Anticipated start date is March 30, 2009. 

Please send resumes to:  Angela Marie MacDougall
Address:  P.O. Box 21503 – 1424 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, V5L 5G2
Fax:  604-687-1864    Email:  director @bwss.org