SFAWS Spring Training flyer - Applications open February 1st, 2026
Spring Volunteer & Language Advocate Training
Applications are now open for our Spring Volunteer & Language Advocate Training. This twice-yearly training is designed for community members who are interested in supporting survivors of domestic violence through culturally responsive, survivor-centered advocacy.
Our volunteers and Language Advocates play a critical role in supporting survivors as they navigate safety, healing, and stability. Participants in the training will learn about the dynamics of domestic violence, trauma-informed and survivor-centered approaches, cultural humility, confidentiality, and how to provide meaningful support within SFAWS programs.
Spots are limited, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage interested applicants to apply early.
Training Dates
Volunteer / DV Counselor Training
March 21 – May 9, 2026
Training begins Saturday, March 21, 2026
Language Advocate / MLAM Training
May 16 – May 17, 2026
We are deeply grateful for the community members who step into this work with care, commitment, and compassion. Our volunteers and Language Advocates are an essential part of our programs, and we truly could not do this work without them.
🔗 Apply here:
or
SF AWS’s Korean talk line is open!
In addition to Asian Women’s Shelter’s multilingual crisis line for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and/or female genital cutting, SF AWS has launched its Korean Talk Line with support from the Korean American Community Foundation of San Francisco! The Korean Talk Line is a confidential phone resource for Korean survivors of violence and those supporting them. Click here to learn more on our new K-PEACE (Koreans Preventing and Ending Abuse through Community Engagement) page.
“Shame dies when stories are told in safe places. ”
Over half a million women, girls, and children assigned female at birth are affected by or at risk of being affected by FGM/C at any given time. Yet few resources exist to support survivors in their journeys toward healing and protecting future generations from this practice. With leadership from Sahiyo, AWS’s crisis line is open to support people affected by FGM/C (Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting) in Asian and other communities. Trained advocates staff the lines and are knowledgeable on FGM/C and the cultural and social connotations in which it continues. They are ready to provide a listening ear, care and support, and work with you to consider physical and/or emotional safety planning if needed.
“I was so happy to know that Sahiyo is collaborating with the Asian Women’s Shelter to support women who suffer from the trauma of FGC and need an empathetic ear. I have worked in the domestic violence (DV) space for a couple of decades, and this is the first time I am seeing recognition of this trauma in the sphere of DV. I am so proud of both organizations and hope collaboration expands with other organizations throughout the U.S. and abroad.”
- Sakina Sharp
“You women are a precious gift to me. Your faces are like a mirror reflecting myself, saying ‘I believe in you. You can make it. You do not deserve to live in fear and violence.’”