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Safer Futures for BC Women

In the fall of 1997, BC CEAS obtained funding from the Ministry of Women's Equality under the Safer Futures for BC Women program to work with senior Iranian women in Vancouver on abuse prevention. We wished, together with them, to create educational materials in Farsi that can be used by Iranian communities around British Columbia. We knew that as many cultural differences exist between Canadian and Iranian cultures, we would need to be sensitive and respectful, and allow the women to work within their own time frame, in accordance with their needs and ways.

An Iranian facilitator was needed to manage the program that would be accepted by the Iranian community. After several months of searching, guided both by the Iranian and the larger community, we hired Dr. Mehrangiz Khorshidi, who recruited seniors for the group. She spoke to three separate seniors groups about the project. Interestingly, abuse is not a word in the Farsi language, and so we replaced it with "disrespect". The program curriculum plan was to foster a sharing of their experiences: what kinds of things made them unhappy as a senior living in Canada, and how living in here was different from living in Iran, for example.

The seniors were interested in taking part in the program but wanted to do it in three different groups. After a good deal of discussion and explanation that there were not enough funds to be able to undertake the program in three places, it was agreed that they would come together. Twenty-two Iranian seniors wished to participate, sixteen senior women and six senior men. We were funded to work with senior women but also needed to work in the way that the group chose and respect their wishes. They wished to have the six men stay, and so they did. We were worried that perhaps the women might not feel as free to discuss their experiences with men present - which did happen at first - but now everyone speaks very freely!

In June, the three groups met together and time was given to them to get to know and trust one another. Before we could begin to work on the project goals, we had to allow time for the participants to tell their stories to one another and to "grieve" the loss of their home country. After many weeks, they were able to begin the work necessary to produce the educational materials. With an extension in program length provided by the Ministry of Women's Equality, we were now able to continue the program's operation into March of 1999.

In December, the seniors hosted a potluck lunch for their families and friends, and in the New Year will begin work on the educational materials - possibly a cartoon booklet that all ages can use - and will hold one or two community workshops. We will also be working on leadership and community development skills with them.

The success of the group has come from being extremely flexible, respecting their needs and wishes, and in granting the seniors ownership of "their project". We have learned a great deal in working together with seniors from another culture, and look forward to being able to do similar projects with other groups in the future.

-Carol Ward-Hall