Violence Prevention Project for young women clients of 
Women’s Refuge: Evaluation report
This report summarises key findings from an independent evaluation of the Violence Prevention Project. This project, funded by the Vodafone Foundation, was a new initiative developed and run by the Women’s Self Defence Network – Wāhine Toa (WSDN-WT) in collaboration with the National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges (NCIWR).
The content of the programme included sexual violence awareness discussions, self-esteem and confidence building, strategies to keep/get safe from sexual violence and physical self defense skills and strategies.
The participants were aged between 17-24 years old and were clients of Refuges. There were four programmes run between February and April 2013 and were evenly split across the North and South Island.
Key findings include:
- The young women who participated on the programme had been empowered and learnt new skills and strategies to keep safer from violence and abuse.
- Instructors believed their capacity to work effectively with high risk young women had improved as a result of this programme.
- The Violence Prevention Programme has enabled the strengthening of collaborative links between WSDN-WT and Women’s Refuge (at national and local levels).
They conclude: “On every front the outcomes are extremely positive and favourable. It is apparent that participation in this course brought benefits to everyone involved. The growth in the girls’ and women’s confidence and self-esteem was clearly observable, endorsing their own views as to how positive and empowering they found this course.” P20
Check out the report here.