SinViolencia

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 What issue will your venture address?
Peru has the highest rate of domestic violence globally at 70%. Domestic violence is a problem virtually everywhere, but Latin American countries in particular have strong male-dominated societies, so much so phrases like “the more he beats me, the more he loves me” exist. In Peru, the legal system only makes the situation worse; the women have to jump through loop-holes and end up with no return. SinViolencia will build shelters in areas of limited resources and implement empowerment training so that these women can take control of their own lives.

 Why are you pursuing this specific issue?
I lived in Chimbote, Peru for one month during summer 2009 and led the production of a battered women’s shelter in the largest, poorest city in the world. They previously had no haven to escape to, so the shelter exists as temporary housing and a support group meeting place. After hearing all of the beautiful women’s stories, and recognizing that every single one of them had been raped more than once in their lifetime, it has become impossible to ignore these horrific circumstances. Surviving this subjectivity makes these women heroes, and they deserve the chance to lead better lives.

 How will your venture solve this problem?
After understanding more about the mindset of a Peruvian woman, I believe there are multiple steps to alleviating domestic violence. The first of these is safety, which is what the shelters provide. The next is empowerment, a subject that the programming within the shelters focuses on. From here, a sense of community is needed; when the women have a support system, they are more confident with initiating change. If mindsets start changing in small groups all over Peru, eventually, policies can be put in place to enforce this, and any stragglers will be forced to oblige.