Entering into a new year provides an opportunity for reflection. Given how 2023 went for most of us, it can feel more akin to rumination than reflection at this point.

Many in the voluntary sector know all too well how difficult the past year has been for people across Fermanagh and, indeed, Northern Ireland, and how much is outside of our control.

Feeling so helpless could easily lead to hopelessness, but time and time again, the voluntary sector picks itself up and moves forward again.

It is not blind optimism that fosters this constant move forward and onward, nor is it wishful thinking and simply crossing our fingers, holding on tight and waiting for the storm to pass.

In the words of John Parsi, “Optimistic people see the glass as half full, but hopeful people ask how they can fill the glass full”.

The community and voluntary sector and the women’s sector in particular are the latter.

What these individuals and organisations harness is the science of hope, as defined by Chen Hellman.

“Hope is the belief that your future will be better than today and that you have the power to create that future.”

Setting a goal, creating a pathway and being motivated toward that goal is the common thread, the goal being to make things better for the communities we serve, the pathway often being locally-based collective action and cooperation, and the motivation being that it has to be done.

A collective responsibility we feel deeply. By cultivating hope within our communities, organisations and the people we serve, we empower others to have a sense of agency and self-efficacy over their lives, increasing the likelihood that we can overcome obstacles and pursue aspirations.

The Feminist movement in Northern Ireland serves as a powerful example of finding hope in an impossible situation.

Despite the seemingly insurmountable barriers they face, activists have refused to be deterred, persisting in their pursuit of equality and justice.

Their resilience, solidarity, determination and unwavering strength has demonstrated that even in the most impossible of situations, positive change is not only conceivable but achievable.

For example, 2023 saw a highlighting of the impact of domestic violence on women’s mental health and suicide rates, Stalking Protection Orders going live last October, fighting rigorously against the cuts levelled against the sector, and diversifying income streams with the support of the community, such as everyone from those who collected in Belleek to those at the South West Acute Hospital who cycled in solidarity, and to increase service provision.

Continuing, there was a domestic homicide conference hosted in Fermanagh, the 49 arrests which happened in the first month after the offence of Non-Fatal Strangulation went live, the tireless work of those in the Executive Office, the Review of Children’s Health and Social Care and its recommendations, and more.

All of these actions in 2023 give cause for hope.

The interconnected elements of agency, pathways, and goals which facilitated the achievements of 2023 can be built upon in 2024.

By focusing on agency – the belief in one's ability to initiate and influence change, and looking to the examples where we have collectively delivered on this, we can move forward in 2024 with even more energy and focus.

Let’s face it – we are going to need that.

There is rightly concern about the pathways open to us as we face yet another new year without a functioning Government but I we must maintain our belief in the existence of viable routes to desired goals.

This is something we carve out with those we support in our services, whether that’s discussing the need for accessible mental health services, pathways to economic independence, or legal avenues for seeking justice and redress.

By highlighting these pathways, we provide practical guidance and resources for those seeking to rebuild their lives.

We must be equally imaginative in carving out pathways for changes in policy, resourcing and continuing to use our voices and amplifying the voices of others.

It is crucial to approach this with sensitivity and empathy, recognising the depth and complexity of individual experiences.

Women who have faced trauma possess agency, resilience, and wisdom, and their stories and perspectives should be honoured and amplified to inspire hope in others.

By focusing on hope as a trauma intervention tool, we help survivors to envision a future that is free from violence and oppression.

This can involve providing support and resources for healing, as well as advocating for systemic change to address the root causes of trauma.

Hope can inspire survivors to take action, speak out against injustice, and work towards creating a more equitable and just society.

Hope can also be a source of resilience for women who have experienced trauma. It can provide a sense of purpose and motivation to continue fighting for change, even in the face of overwhelming obstacles.

Foyle’s Family Justice Centre is testament to this. By embracing hope, survivors can find the strength to build communities of support, challenge harmful societal norms, and demand accountability from those who perpetuate violence and oppression.

My hopes as we enter 2024 are a funded Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, evidence-based RSE provision, full implementation of the Gillen Review and Children’s Health and Social Care review recommendations, a removal of the two-child benefit cap, and adequate resourcing of the sector.

Much of the early part of 2024 will be spent reaching out to those who I know are motivated and calling for many of the same things so that we can carve a path towards these goals together.

I hope that women in Northern Ireland will have greater representation in decision-making and leadership roles across various sectors.

It is crucial that women have a voice in shaping policies and making decisions that impact their lives and the lives of their communities.

I hope that the societal attitudes towards women in Northern Ireland will continue to evolve, promoting gender equality and challenging harmful stereotypes and prejudices.

Hope is not simply an idea or a thought, it is a powerful force in transformation and justice, one that tells us that it is “our responsibility not to pull the ladder up behind us, but instead to let the hardships we went through inform the idea that the success of our children belongs to all of us”.

We must absorb the idea that we have a responsibility to be part of the successes and failures of all the people in the communities we belong to.

Perhaps there are some individuals on a certain hill to whom this message applies most profoundly as we enter another year.

Kerrie Flood is Development Manager at Fermanagh Women’s Aid.