What We Do
Providing Mentorship to Empower Women to Rewrite their Future
OUR MISSION
Our purpose is to empower women who are survivors of abuse and oppression to rebuild their lives through mentorship, friendship, and support.
Trauma-informed Mentorship
Our free peer-mentorship program supports women-identifying survivors of gender-based violence who have left crisis behind and are ready to rebuild.
We offer one-on-one, trauma-informed support rooted in lived experience—not therapy or coaching, but practical, peer-based guidance.
Who it’s For:
• Women-identifying survivors of abuse
• No longer in crisis
• Ready to work towards a personal goal or dream – big or small
Why We Offer It:
• Because healing doesn’t end when crisis does
• Because rebuilding takes support, solidarity, and a community that understands
How it Works:
We offer free, one-on-one mentorship with a trained peer. Your mentor will walk beside you as you work towards personal goals or dreams, and tackle real-life challenges like jobs, education, and finances. You and your mentor will gently hold each other accountable through mutual respect and care, as part of a community of survivors who’ve been there.
You don’t have to figure it all out alone.
Empowered Communities
Brave Beginnings is building a trauma-informed, survivor-led community of women in the city of Toronto who are reclaiming their lives after abuse—and supporting each other along the way.
Who it’s For:
• Survivors who are ready to rebuild, or ready to give back
• Volunteers with a passion for ending gender-based violence
• Community agencies with a mission to support and empower women
Why We Offer it:
• Because research shows that healing doesn’t stop when the crisis ends
• Because breaking isolation breaks cycles of abuse
How it Works:
We create spaces of connection, care, and collective strength through local social events, virtual meetups, and partnerships with community agencies.
There is power in community.
Survivor-led Advocacy
At Brave Beginnings, we believe that survivors must shape the solutions to gender-based violence—not just receive them. Through survivor-led advocacy and research, we work with community partners and agencies to shine a light on the gaps in post-crisis support and push for lasting change.
We amplify survivor voices to influence policy, improve services, and ensure no one is left behind after the crisis ends.
Who it’s For:
• Women-identifying survivors who want to share their experiences to help others
• Community partners and agencies committed to trauma-informed change
• Advocates, researchers, and allies seeking real-world insight from survivors
Why We Offer It:
• Research and lived experience show a deep gap in support after crisis ends
• Because leaving abuse is just the first step—rebuilding requires long term support
• Because too many women return to unsafe situations due to isolation and lack of resources
How it Works:
We engage in survivor-informed research in collaboration with community partners. In actively seeking opportunities for survivors to share stories (confidentially or publicly), we aim to shape programs and policies and provide education and advocacy rooted in real, lived experience and survivor expertise.