The journey began in 1991 when New Beginnings Founder and Director, Irvina Edwards, moved with her husband Jessie to Belgium on military assignment with the United States Air Force. Finding residence in a small local community, the couple was immersed in European culture and soon discovered the reality of a rapidly growing violent crime against women and children. Right down the street from where the Edwards family lived was a thriving business where prostitution was openly marketed in the window of their quaint little town. As Irvina took her daily walk into town, she passed by the corner store where women stood in the window scantily dressed waiting for the next customer to enter the establishment. Irvina remembers the reoccurring heart break as she would inch closer to the store to look upon a human being whose sense of self worth was completely non-existent. If the woman could gather enough strength to lift her head of shame and make eye contact, Irvina recalls the look of hopelessness and despair. Irvina could do nothing but cry and pray.