Quick Escape 
YWCA Hamilton had the privilege of facilitating the Safe Space for an Early Learning Foundation (SELF) project in partnership with Mothers Matter Canada, from April 2022 until the end of its funding cycle in March 2025. Launched as a women-led initiative to support mothers and pre-school aged children impacted by gender-based violence, the SELF program offered a pathway toward connection and growth for families at a time in their lives when it is greatly needed.
Throughout its run, the SELF Project supported 19 mothers and 25 children. SELF provided a structured early learning curriculum for mothers to use with their pre-school aged children, and recognized that the wellbeing of mothers and their children are deeply interconnected. Learning together also helped mothers build confidence in their parenting abilities:
“I was in survival mode, just trying to get through each day. But SELF gave me the support I needed to feel safe again. Because of that, I could actually be present for my child in ways I never thought possible.” – SELF participant
Women-led initiatives like the SELF Project bring a unique and powerful dynamic to community building, as well. They create spaces where women uplift one another, share lived experiences, and offer peer-to-peer support that is often as valuable as professional services. These caring connections help build a person’s capacity to transform their life after experiences of violence – and they create a ripple effect that strengthen families and entire communities.
Another critical success of the SELF Project was its integration with broader community services. Participants were connected with education resources, housing supports, food banks, and legal services, ensuring that their immediate and long-term needs were met:
“Having both learning support and real-life resources meant I could focus on my child’s future, even when things were tough.” – SELF participant
This kind of wraparound model of support is essential because it helps address the needs of the family in a holistic and trauma-informed way, helping them build stability while preventing crises from escalating.
Through SELF, we reaffirmed how important strategic outreach and community collaboration are for supporting families who experience gender-based violence. Partnerships and networks were established that strengthened the way we deliver services for families, and laid the groundwork for more integrated community-based responses to gender-based violence in Hamilton.
As we look ahead, the insights gained from SELF will be woven into other areas of YWCA Hamilton’s programming with women, gender-diverse people and families. We’ve learned that culturally responsive, flexible, and individualized supports are essential for supporting people who have experienced violence and trauma. Importantly, justice services, housing support, mental health supports and overall case management must be tailored to meet people where they are.
By creating an environment where mothers and children could heal together, the SELF project promoted development of emotional security, stability, and long-term resilience within families. The SELF Project has empowered women to become agents of change in their own lives and in the lives of their children. As we build on this work, we remain committed to dismantling barriers to support and creating spaces where women and children can thrive together.
“I have no relatives in Canada so I felt so much at home with the weekly visits. I totally enjoyed having the SELF program staff every week as I looked forward to each visit. The SELF program made me and my children love life after running away from an abusive husband.” – SELF participant
