Together We Celebrate: Finding Joy in New Beginnings
For domestic violence survivors, escaping home often means stepping into uncertainty, especially where children are involved. Leaving behind everything familiar and coming to a new space can be overwhelming and scary. As festivals approach, they experience a mixed bag of emotions, thinking about past celebrations with family and the togetherness they once had. This makes festivals a particularly hard time.
Children too come with their own worries and questions, asking about purchasing new clothes, wondering if this year's celebration will be like before, and asking whether they will go back home or if family will come to visit them. These questions can be difficult to answer, as survivors try to balance the truth with hope, trying to protect children from experiencing the pain of being away.
At the shelter, we understand the crucial role festivals play in bringing people together and the loss and grief many women and children grapple with during these days. We strive to make every festival a special occasion. Everyone comes together, irrespective of their cultural and religious backgrounds, and we celebrate as a community.
We transform the space to bring a festive vibe, decorating with vibrant colors, lights, and ornaments that reflect the spirit of the festival. This creates a warm and welcoming environment where everyone gets into the mood of celebration. Shopping for festivals is a very common practice, and we make sure clients visit the Nool Thrift Store to get clothes, accessories, and décor that they would like to have for themselves or gift to another during the festival.
On the day of the festival, we prepare a variety of delicious food. We also organize games and other activities for fun and for building connections between one another.
Through these shared experiences of decorating, shopping, eating, and celebrating together, we aim to create a sense of belonging, joy, and inclusion, helping each other lift the weight of the past and bring light and hope into the present.