Which of these words defines you Which of these words defines you? (Allow time for people to look at the images and think) ----------------- Could you communicate everything there was about you in one word?   No person can be defined in one word. We are beautifully complex creatures, shaped by the place we are born, people we meet and situations we encounter. Yet for some women, the way they are treated and defined is determined only by their gender.

One in three women or girls will experience violence in their lifetime simply because they are female.   These women are trapped within their definition, a definition that only considers one aspect of who they are. But we are not what other people say we are. We are not what the world thinks we are. We are what God knows us to be.

God created us all in his image God created us all in his image. When he looks at us he sees his children, unique yet equally loved and valued.   We want to challenge the incomplete definitions that limit the opportunities that women and girls are given, restrict the rights they are afforded and affect the way they are treated. The Salvation Army is standing alongside women and empowering them to rebuild their confidence, restore their dignity and redefine themselves as equal and active members of society.

ISABELLA Isabella lives in Tres Arroyos, Argentina. She is a business owner and has three daughters. This is her story. Seven years ago, Isabella learnt that her daughters had been abused in their childhood by her brother-in-law. Isabella’s daughters reported the abuse to the police but their Aunt, Isabella’s sister, did not believe them. It was a very difficult, hard and painful time. Isabella sued her brother-in-law, and though he was sentenced to seven years in prison, he only ended up serving a few months. Isabella and her sisters experienced violence as children. However, everyone around them would say, ‘Family is family. Don’t break the family.’ Isabella recognised the cycle of abuse and realised that if she wanted to help her daughters, she needed to help herself. So she looked for help to try to come to terms with what had happened. Isabella read about The Salvation Army’s therapy group in the newspaper. She started attending sessions at The Salvation Army’s centre, and staff also visited Isabella at her home. Isabella said, ‘It’s not easy for me. I had to fight against society who did not believe me. I had to fight to support my children. ‘This group supports me and I feel that I can help someone else by sharing my story and showing that change is possible. But I also understand that it’s not easy for women. We need to know that there are people going through the same trials and it’s possible to get out.’

By supporting the Redefined, we can help women to rebuild their confidence, restore their dignity and redefine their place in society.

Thank you.