Application

Hi, my name is Michelle Wu. In October 2008, I completed KAN-WIN’s Annual 40-hour Domestic Violence (DV) Volunteer Training, which was a challenging yet rewarding experience. My volunteer class comprised of women and men of all ages who were either immigrants from Korea or second-generation Korean Americans. About 1/3 of us could speak English fluently, another 1/3 of us could speak Korean fluently, and the last few were able to understand and speak both languages equally. The diversity of our classmate’s backgrounds exemplified the wide-ranging interests we had in helping women who have experienced DV. All of the KAN-WIN staff members attended to our needs by translating the sessions into English or Korean, preparing snacks and meals, and taking turns to teach us how to empower Korean American women. We learned about KAN-WIN’s philosophy, mission, and history along with an overview of DV including topics such as dynamics of DV, counseling strategies, dating violence, child and elder abuse, legal issues, and community resources. The 40-hour DV Training was an opportunity for all of us to learn about the phenomenon of DV and to share a true sense of purpose and community. Over 15 speakers provided the DV Training, and they represented a series of service professionals such as lawyers, law enforcement personnel, social workers, community organizers, and counselors. They also came from collaborating organizations including Apna Ghar (DV shelter), Korean American Resource and Cultural Center of Chicago, Northwest Center Against Sexual Assault, West Side Domestic Abuse Project, Community Counseling Centers of Chicago, Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center, Salvation Army, Glenview Police Department, Legal Aid Bureau of Metropolitan Family Services, and Affirming Alternatives Psychological Services. Through these Korean American and non-Korean American speakers, we amassed a great amount of knowledge which ultimately led to a deep humility about the woman’s experience of DV. Our false beliefs about DV were confronted. We were educated about the power and control dynamics and the insidious progression of DV as an abusive relationship progressed. Role play activities helped us to temporarily “suffer” the experience of being abused and feeling trapped within an oppressive family and social context. Russian writer Leo Tolstoy once stated that “everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself”. Through this 40-hour experience, we were the ones who were truly empowered, to be able to recognize the multiple factors affecting the quality of our lives and our relationships. With such training kindly presented to us, we readily acknowledged that it is the time to help empower others.

Volunteer Opportunity

Direct Service: hotline duty, mentoring program, computer, ESL, and GED tutoring, child care, transportation, vocational assistance, interpretation/translation, accompaniment, etc.

Other Service: event coordination, fundraising, community education, research and evaluation, administrative, etc.

For more information and eligibility, please refer to our Volunteer Handbook