Building the Bridge from Surviving to Thriving!
85% of survivors go back to their abuser because they don’t have the means financially to sustain themselves. This also means no place to call home beyond the shelter and staying with family and friends. We have a plan to fill the gap. “Carolyn’s Haven of Hope will be a place to heal in a safe environment with accountability on both ends,” said Cathlene Miner, founder of Hopefull Handbags Global (HH). Survivors would be in our successful SHINE and NEW Programs while participating in the upkeep of their home and working towards a sustainable place of their own.” Cathlene says that she truly believes we can collectively change the equation for those that are leaving abusive situations.
It has been proven over time that individuals are a reflection of their surroundings. Specifically, we learn from the people in our surroundings, whether it be good or bad learning. For any individual to change a behavior that they know is not serving them, that individual needs to surround themselves with positive people that are moving forward in the direction they would like to go. Sometimes that means changing their friends, associates, and surroundings. For instance, an individual with alcoholism needs to not associate with others who love drinking alcohol. The same applies to domestic abuse survivors; they need to meet new people who can empower them by being an example of successfully overcoming a bad situation, and living an independent financially sustainable lifestyle, which will enhance that survivor, her children, and her community.
Until the survivor is surrounded by people who have made a successful change, they will not believe that they are capable of doing the same. This is the critical value of Carolyn’s Haven of Hope , the SHINE and NEW programs is because it shows the survivor the path that they need to follow to be financially independent and out of an abusive, controlling situation. Of critical importance as well is the fact that domestic abuse extends across generations in a family, because individuals are a reflection of their surroundings, and can’t see a viable better path. Survivors who leave a situation and establish an independent sustainable life away from the abuser also set an example for their children to understand that domestic abuse is wrong, should not be tolerated, and that there is a different way to live. Changing that chain of domestic abuse acceptance being carried over generations will have a significant positive effect on the community far beyond what we can imagine today.
Hopefull Handbags Global is a bridge organization that raises hope and helps survivors find BRIDGES of CONNECTION to resources, support, education, and self-growth. HH is a connector in bringing global awareness to domestic abuse and sustainability for survivors and their children. We realize the shelters may be the first stop, but they are not a long-term solution. We noticed a gap in one on one mentorship in our communities globally and have since been on a mission to close the gap. Once survivors have taken the enormous step to leave their situations and go to a shelter or stay with family or friends, they run into several obstacles that often lead them right back to their abuser.
IF SURVIVORS are READY TO STEP ONTO THE BRIDGE… THEN WE’RE GOING TO GIVE THEM ALL THE TOOLS AND HELP THEM GET TO THE Other SIDE
Carolyn’s Haven of Hope Bridge Housing will be the bridge to the other side.
This 18-month Program is a time to heal, and gain skills, employment, confidence, and healthy self-perception and lifestyle while having of a mentor to guide them.
Contact Cathlene Miner, Founder of Hopefull Handbags Global
Carolyn’s Haven of Hope at [email protected].
How it Will Help Survivors and their Children
