Ending Violence Against Women International advocates believing a victim’s story as the most important step in helping her.

People sometimes ask how we know if the person we are assisting really is a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault. As the Executive Director, I always respond, “We are in the believing business.” So often someone—adult or child—who has experienced the trauma of violence of any kind is not believed. By the time we are talking to potential clients, they most likely have already talked to friends, family, co-workers, or even law enforcement, and at each turn they may have been greeted with anything from skepticism to outright denial.

It is our job to believe, to be compassionate listeners for all who need to tell their story.
Our training and experience teach us compassionate listening within the shelter. The more difficult front is our community at large. Our culture is often skeptical of those who come forward to talk about their sexual assault or the years of abuse they have suffered. Ending Violence Against Women International (EVAW) has just launched a campaign called Start By Believing that aims to change the way we respond as a community and as a culture to reports of violence. If the first person that a victim reports to has a negative response, then the trauma can worsen.

How can we improve our reaction to someone who reveals to us domestic violence or sexual assault? We can begin with simply believing the person and suspending our own disbelief.
• Allow her or him to talk.
• Use validating statements like, “That must have been very difficult,” or “It sounds like you were really scared.”
• Encourage her or him to seek professional services or file a police report, but only if the victim wants to.
• Avoid using words like “should” or “ought to.” These words tell someone what to do as well as diminish and invalidate a person’s feelings.
• Express your own anger or hurt with someone you trust, not with the victim.
• Be patient! What seems like a clear path to healing may not be the path a loved one chooses. Healing from trauma can take a very long time, sometimes years.

Please join us in our “believing business.” Go to Start By Believing to learn more about this campaign and EVAW. If you know of someone who has been or is being hurt by violence, please feel free to call our staff at 479-246-9999 for guidance in assisting that person.

Text us a donation and join our mobile community on July 6th to receive a free art print! Our goal is to reach 50 text donations on our first day—will you be one of them?

NWAWS is launching our first Mobile Giving campaign today and we want you to be part of it! Today (Wednesday, July 6^th) only, everyone who donates $10 to NWAWS via text giving and joins our Mobile Giving Community will receive a free art print made through our children’s art healing program.

Here’s How it Works  

From a smart phone, text “ARTWORK” to 50555 and then when you receive a reply message, follow the link to the information form. Fill out the form and click the “Donate $10” button at the bottom of the page. We will mail your art print to the address you provide. You will then be part of our Mobile Giving Community and will receive occasional texts from us about the latest news in the shelter.

From a regular cell phone, text “SHELTER” and your name and address (i.e. “SHELTER John Smith 1555 Blueberry Court, Rogers, AR 72757”) to 50555 and then reply with “Yes” to confirm your donation. When asked, opt in to receive future alerts from us. You will then be part of our Mobile Giving Community and will receive occasional texts from us about the latest news in the shelter.

Here’s Why We’re Doing It

All text donations received will fund services—including safe shelter, food, clothing, and transportation—to the women and children who come to us for help. There are 117,000 people affected by violence in Northwest Arkansas, and we need your help to reach as many as possible.