Visions of Women

Visions of Women (V.O.W.) currently operates in South Carolina as a nonprofit organization. V.O.W.'s mission is to educate, support and lead to raise awareness towards domestic violence and promote healthy relationships for teens and college students. V.O.W. serves to see improvement in the community and decrease dating violence among the youth by talking to young teens and providing workshops. V.O.W. also provides resources and support groups for college-aged students.

Visions of Women College Group: Through this program, we take preventive measures on college and university campuses allowing students to share tools on "how to stay out of abusive relationships and be in healthy relationships" by setting boundaries and knowing the signs of abuse. Students create events, set up info tables, campaigns, and use other educational platforms to give resources and provide speakers who are survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, and/or sexual assault during panels. This program allows students to build boundaries for healthy relationships, complete volunteer hours, be on their title IX school board (when provided the opportunity), receive training on domestic violence, sexual assault, and more educative topics. Students also grow their knowledge on the role of being an advocate.

Mentorship Program: This program is for individuals who are interested in becoming advocates for domestic violence or would like to work with victims who have been abused. We provide educational resources that help aspiring advocates become trauma-informed and aware of diversity. As a leading voice on the issues of domestic violence we want young adults ages 18 and up to be informed and knowledgeable on the framework of advocacy and self-advocacy work.

V.O.W. Girls League:We know that kids are online learning about relationships and sometimes the things that are being transpired are not healthy.

V.O.W. Girls League is for middle and high school girls. It also serves as a yearlong mentorship program. Recently we have been mentoring young ladies battling suicide. By working on entrepreneurship skills and self-awareness and giving the parent and child resources for suicide prevention we are interrupting suicidology. During the summer we teach girls about healthy relationships for themselves, family, and friends. Girls who complete this 4-to-6-week program receive a certificate of completion.

Real Talk: This is a workshop for teens. Students are able to talk in a laid-back environment and have important conversations about healthy and unhealthy relationships. This space allows students to keep it real when asking questions and adults are only involved to facilitate. Resources, food, and prizes are given at this event in person. And if completed online prizes are provided to keep students engaged.

Purple Closet: Clothes shoes some old, and some new have been donated. The purple closet is used to give the necessary items to an individual who has left their residence without clothes. Whether clothes are needed for a job interview, or to keep warm we aim to make sure we meet the client's needs.

Testimonials

The organization has expanded although impacted by the pandemic. We have grown and managed work with individuals going through unhealthy relationships such as domestic violence. We have provided resources and calls have increased.

Please see the testimony below:

Visions of Women has been an important part of my growth as a young woman and my journey to experiencing healthier relationships. I became more aware of the signs and red flags of domestic violence. Some forms of abuse I did not realize were domestic violence because it was so common, and I considered it the "ups and downs" of relationships/love. I now know what I do not have to tolerate from anyone and that no form of violence is acceptable. I can almost remember verbatim testimonies from the survivors of domestic violence, and it comes back to me when I try to look over red flags in people. When it comes to my relationships V.O.W has helped me become accountable and aware of my unhealthy habits as well. One of the key components to me having healthy relationships is a healthier me; loving and accepting myself first before trying to date anyone else. In learning about pursuing healthy relationships, I have learned that I need to pursue myself first; I've learned how to love myself better, began building self-esteem, and conscious of the unhealed trauma that I need to address and heal before seeking relationships with other people.