Opportunity awaits: skills training offers hope to survivors of gender-based violence in Tobago

LOWLANDS, Tobago - Tangerine-coloured thread peeks from between Camille’s* quivering thumb and index finger.  With a delicately poised push, the thread snakes through the eye of the needle and slides out the other side.

“I think I’m going to need glasses by the time I’m finished with sewing,” the 41-year-old laughs.

“After I made my first piece of clothing, I decided to work even harder because I really want this." - Camille, survivor and Women of Substance trainee

After guiding the cloth into place, Camille applies gentle pressure to the foot pedal to kickstart the sewing machine. The motor whirs – the beginning of a new skirt. 

Learning to sew had always been a dream, but one Camille never had the opportunity to pursue. That chance came from Women of Substance, an NGO in Tobago that is dedicated to supporting survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). 

Now, Camille plans to use her tailoring skills to start a business. 

“After I made my first piece of clothing, I decided to work even harder because I really want this. I just have to get over my left-handed awkwardness,” she chuckles. “But I got this.”

Camille is one of 10 participants learning garment construction and cosmetology through courses offered by Women of Substance. 

The NGO’s founder, Onika Mars, makes the workshops available to unemployed women.

A few are migrants from Venezuela. Many are single mothers.

All have experienced some form of abuse from a partner. 

“A lot of women stay in abusive relationships because they are financially dependent on their partner, so I wanted to help them get the skills that could help them become an entrepreneur,” Ms. Mars says. “That would build their confidence and they would feel empowered.”

“A lot of women stay in abusive relationships because they are financially dependent on their partner, so I wanted to help them get the skills to become an entrepreneur.” - Onika Mars, Women of Substance Founder

Since the inception of Women of Substance in 2017, Ms. Mars has supported nearly 400 survivors of GBV through art therapy, support groups and confidence-building workshops. This venture was the first for Women of Substance in the area of skills training and Ms. Mars sought the support of the UN Women Multi-country Office (MCO) - Caribbean through Spotlight Initiative.

With Spotlight Initiative funding, Ms. Mars offers the classes free-of-charge, pays a project coordinator, recruits facilitators and supplies all the training material for her participants. For women without transportation, she hires a taxi. If mothers have no one to supervise their children at home, Ms. Mars insists they bring the little ones to class.

“UN Women and Spotlight Initiative understand the challenges women face and the challenges NGOs face with funding,” Ms. Mars says. “I am a survivor of intimate partner violence. UN Women listened to my vision to expand my help to survivors, and I was happy that someone saw the value in this idea to empower these women so they can, in turn, empower other women.”

Representative of the UN Women Multi-Country Office – Caribbean, Tonni Brodber, says economic empowerment solutions like the one offered by Women of Substance play an invaluable role in supporting survivors with the tools they need for financial self-reliance.

“In the ongoing work to end GBV, the pivotal role of civil society organizations (CSOs) like Women of Substance cannot be overstated. They cannot do it alone though, they need partnership and collaboration from all sectors, especially financial support and capacity-strengthening support. 

“Through Spotlight Initiative, UN Women distributed small grants to 19 women-led small businesses and offered over 100 capacity-building workshops to CSOs across the Caribbean. 

"As Spotlight Initiative transitions back to stakeholders, UN Women will continue to support CSOs because they are the movers, shakers and impact-makers creating crucial environments for healing and support.”

By Faine Richards

*Full name withheld to protect the survivor's identity.

To contact Women of Substance or support one of their initiatives, call 485-9534 or visit their website at womenofsubstance.org.tt