SEAMAAC SAFE FAMILIES PROGRAM MULTI-LANGUAGE ANIMATIONÂ
English version
Khmer version
Mandarin version
Hakha Chin version
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a serious issue among immigrant populations, often exacerbated by cultural, linguistic, and legal barriers. Prevalence rates are higher due to factors such as isolation, lack of access to services, fear of deportation, and economic dependency. Immigrants face unique challenges in reporting abuse, including unfamiliarity with local legal protections or mistrust of authorities. Community-specific outreach programs, which address cultural norms, language needs, and immigration concerns, are essential for effectively supporting victims and reducing IPV in these communities.
The SAFE Families Program by SEAMAAC
The SAFE Families program, operated by SEAMAAC in Philadelphia, provides critical domestic violence services aimed at Asian immigrant and refugee communities. This program focuses on increasing safety, promoting healing, and supporting healthy family dynamics through services such as case management, safety planning, and community education on healthy relationships.
The Storyline
In collaboration with SEAMAAC, the Transformational team created a powerful 2-minute animation depicting the journey of an immigrant woman who marries a man she barely knows upon arriving in a new country. The story portrays her struggle with a relentless cycle of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and her eventual path to freedom, highlighting the support that helped her break free and find safety. While this is a fictitious story, it contains many themes common to victims of IPV, such as abuse, isolation, and the difficulty of leaving an abusive relationship.
Why Animation?
Animation’s abstract nature allows the design team to address sensitive issues like Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and complex scenarios without triggering viewers who may have experienced IPV. By using carefully crafted illustrations, colors, transitions, voice acting, sound effects, and music, animation evokes nuanced emotions that transcend words. This approach creates a safe space for viewers, making it easier to engage with and absorb essential information on domestic violence and healthy relationships.
Language Versions
The Transformational team worked to translate the Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) animation into 9 Asian languages including Mandarin, Cantonese, Indonesian, Khmer, Nepali, Burmese, Hakha-Chin, Vietnamese, and Lao. These translations can be found on YouTube and are available for free use. Transformational can provide translations and voice-overs in more than 100 languages.
Application and Feedback from SEAMAAC
When SEAMAAC screened the IPV animation with two of their refugee staff, who are also survivors of intimate partner violence, they stated that the animation was very moving and true to life. SEAMAAC has successfully used this animation as an educational tool in workshops, training community members, immigrant faith leaders, and new staff. The feedback from these sessions has been consistently positive, with participants praising the animation for its realistic portrayal of IPV and its educational value.
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