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International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women
December 9, 2023 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
In the spirit of Eradication of Violence Against Women Day celebrated in Good Shepherd Centre on 9 December 2023, residential programme participants in the shelter came together to celebrate their resilience and healing journey.
As a part of the celebration, the staff at Good Shepherd Centre had invited volunteers, Ms. Roisin Hansen, Ms. Valerie Cheng and Ms. Soo Hyung to organise a hand aromatherapy session aimed at teaching the programme participants effective techniques to manage their emotions and to alleviate stress. Through hand massage and essential oils, we also taught them that hands could be used to show love and not violence.
After the introduction of hand aromatherapy, the volunteers guided the programme participants to carefully select the essential oils known for their properties to address common emotional challenges faced by survivors of violence. Lavender, renowned for its calming properties, was used to alleviate anxiety and promote better sleep. Citrus-based oils like lemon and orange were employed to uplift moods, combat fatigue, and inspire a sense of energy and optimism. A mother with 2 children, shared that she discovered the power of essential oils in supporting her emotional well-being.
Accompanying the selection of essential oils, massage techniques were introduced after. The various hand massage techniques were designed to reduce tension, improve blood circulation, and induce relaxation. They emphasized the importance of gentle pressure and rhythmic movements, allowing the female programme participants to connect with their own bodies and experience the profound impact of good and healing touch. One programme participant shared that the massage lifted the heaviness in her heart as the pressures made her realise that such pressure is positive and it helped her to release the trauma she had experienced.
Programme Participants getting personal hand massage from volunteers to learn about compression.
Towards the end of the programme, these inspired female programme participants not only learned valuable techniques to manage their emotions and alleviate stress but also found a platform for self-expression and self-care. The thoughtful guidance of volunteers, a book donated by one of the volunteers on learning “What is Peace?”, the healing properties of essential oils allowed these programme participants to reclaim their inner strength, embrace their resilience, empower them to experience that hands could be for love and care and not just for violence.