 San Diego is considered to be at the forefront of domestic violence response and resources in the nation, and is often presented as a model program. For English-speaking women and women from Latin America, this is certainly the case. Unfortunately for many women from the Middle East, Africa, the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, immigrants and refugees who experience domestic violence at rates equal to or greater than the mainstream population, communities without bilingual and bicultural services are communities essentially without any services. Members of our communities created License To Freedom in 2002 to respond to unmet needs of immigrant women.
The involvement of community members and respect for battered women’s voices shaped License to Freedom into one of the most unique and creative models of response to domestic violence in refugee and immigrant communities. We believe that services cannot be limited to crisis intervention alone. Lack of economic opportunities is one of the major barriers that battered refugee and immigrant women face when trying to leave violent partners and start violence-free lives. It is also a major reason why battered refugee and immigrant women return to their violent partners. Therefore, services must include employment counseling, job placement, and driver’s license education.
Education is a key factor in becoming independent, in breaking the cycle of violence, and in eventually obtaining financial and medical resources. Obtaining a driver’s license is a very important step towards increased self-sufficiency, employability, access to health services, and increased self-esteem.
For many abused refugee and immigrant women,
a driver’s license becomes a LICENSE TO FREEDOM.
License To Freedom received its tax-exempt status and became independent organization in 2004. |
