Breaking the Silence: Domestic Violence Awareness Program for International Students and Spouses

Southern Illinois University at Carbondale conducted a campus survey titled "A Pilot Study of Domestic Conflict and International Women Students and Spouses." An overwhelming majority of the respondents agreed on the need for campus programs against domestic violence designed particularly for international students and spouses.

Based on this survey, an awareness program on domestic violence was designed and implemented on campus. The program included: a one-day workshop for international students and spouses, internship opportunities with Carbondale Women's Center, and the creation and distribution of 3,500 copies of informational brochures on domestic violence in nine languages (English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, Swahili, French, and Arabic).