Olive Tree Foundation funds New Program that Helps Young Faith Leaders Support Domestic Violence Survivors

The Olive Tree Foundation has approved funding for a new project that trains young religious leaders to help survivors of domestic violence. The project is being run by the Azerbaijani Women's Support Centre (AWSC).

In Canada, many women who experience domestic violence turn to their religious leaders for help before going to a shelter or calling the police. This happens for several reasons: they may not speak English or French well, they may be afraid of losing their place in their community, or their faith may be central to how they cope.

The problem is that most young faith leaders don't know how to handle these situations. Religious training usually doesn't teach the clinical skills needed to recognize and respond to abuse, while secular abuse training often ignores the role faith plays in survivors' lives. This new project tries to fill that gap.

The program brings together young leaders from different religions to learn practical, science-based tools for spotting the warning signs of abuse and assessing how much danger someone is in. It also connects these tools to ideas already valued in many faith traditions, like the pursuit of spiritual excellence and personal healing.

"This timely initiative addresses a profound and urgent need in our communities," said Azerbaijani Women's Support Centre.

The training covers several key areas:

• Faith and gender: Helping leaders use their own religious teachings to support equality and safety for women and girls.
• Bigger social problems: Teaching leaders how racism, prejudice against ethnic groups, and poverty make it even harder for survivors to get help.
• Cultural understanding: Helping leaders understand the specific challenges faced by immigrant and racialized families in Canada.

The goal is simple: make sure that when women and girls reach out for help, whoever they turn to — including their faith leaders — knows how to respond with real support.

The Olive Tree Foundation is a philanthropic organization dedicated to community development through endowed funds and charitable contributions. It serves as a catalyst for initiatives that support and sustain the community.

The Azerbaijani Women’s Support Centre, a registered non-profit charity, advocates for women's well-being through community activities, information dissemination, social engagement, and educational initiatives. The Centre serves immigrants, refugees, and women from all backgrounds. It is also actively involved in interfaith dialogue and community building.