Who We Are

The St. John’s Women’s Centre is a feminist organization that envisions equity and justice for all. Since 1972, we have been working to achieve this through political activism, community collaboration and by offering a safe and inclusive space and programming for all women and gender diverse folks in the St. John’s area.

Empowering Them is our first free, publicly accessible e-course on gender-based violence (GBV). It is informed by our work and research, as well as community partners throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Most importantly, we have been inspired by people who have experienced violence in their lives, by those who don’t know what to do, and the ongoing need that all of us have to make a difference in our communities.

Why Take this Course?

GBV is not a women’s issue or a private issue. Empowering Them is an online course that will help you understand and explore the impacts that gender-based violence has on all of us. It is completely virtual, interactive, and you can complete it at your own pace. Doing this course will help you understand what signs of abuse to look for, and how to tell the difference between facts and myths surrounding this taboo topic. You will learn ways to show your support to people in your own life, and gain the skills and tools to help put a stop to it and make your community safer and stronger for everyone. We hope that Empowering Them will give you the tools to take action with confidence.

Who is this For?

This e-course is for everyone and anyone in our community, from the tip of Labrador, to the bottom of the Southern Shore. In our approach, we imagined it being used by teenagers, adults, older adults, parents, siblings, friends, workers, partners, groups… we want everyone over the age of 14 to take up the cause and change the way violence impacts all of us. You might be experiencing abuse, it might be that you are inflicting it, it might be happening to someone you know or hardly know at all. Whatever the case, this course will give you the confidence to ask and act accordingly. 

We’d like to thank our funders for their generous support:

  • Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour
  • VOCM Cares Foundation


Course Info

  • The course will take you approximately 2 hours to complete

  • Available any time, 365 days a year, 24/7

  • Interactive quizzes and activities

  • Live action video scenarios

  • Additional resources and downloads

  • A word bank for familiarizing yourself with new terms

  • Quick links to bring you to relaxation and grounding activities

  • Links to connect you with 24/7 supports

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is gender-based violence?

    Gender-based violence (GBV) is harm that is directed towards a person because of their gender, gender identity, or gender expression and where a person uses dominance, control and coercion over another person. It’s a violation of human rights. It can take many different forms, and it can happen to anyone.

  • Who should sign up for Empowering Them?

    Empowering Them is a free, publicly available course for everyone.

  • Is this course suitable for children?

    We recommend this course for users 14 and up. For users aged 14 – 18, we would encourage you to have a discussion with a trusted adult about the course content.

  • Is this course accessible for users with disabilities?

    Yes. This course offers ASL interpretation and closed captioning, and is designed to support screen reading technology.

  • How much does this course cost?

    Empowering Them is completely free.

  • When will this course take place?

    Empowering Them is available for you to complete at your own pace, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

  • How long will this course take?

    It will take an average of 2 hours to complete the course. You do not need to complete the course in one continuous session. You can save your progress, and return to it later.

  • Is this training available in different languages?

    At this time, the course is only available in English.

  • How will my privacy be respected?

    The Women’s Centre will keep all data collected from Empowering Them confidential. We ask for your first name and an email address when you sign up. Your email address will only be used for registration purposes, and we will follow up with you once after completing the course to invite you to take a survey. We will also ask for your age, gender, and region in which you are based. None of this information will be shared, and is solely to help us understand where and by whom our course is being received.

Contact Us

Visit the St. John’s Women’s Centre and learn about our programs, services, and our work at  https://sjwomenscentre.ca/.

Twitter: @SJSOWC

Instagram: @sjsowc

Facebook: @SJWomensCentre

For Continued Support:

Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Domestic Violence Help Line: 

1-888-709-7090

Newfoundland and Labrador province-wide supports: 

https://www.gov.nl.ca/vpi/about/partners-and-stakeholders/