Domestic Violence Prevention Awareness Campaign

A closer look at Safe Place’s domestic violence prevention awareness campaign:

As contest entries continue to come in and more students get the opportunity to watch the awareness video, I pause to consider what this awareness means to our communities in Conway and Perry County. 

For the younger children, I observed a variety of responses.  Some kindergartener’s immediately remembered Leo the Lamb and our classes on using our hands to help and not to hit, using our feet to throw balls and not to kick people and using our mouth’s to say please and thank you rather than hurt people with our words.  This awareness art contest further reinforced the importance of being nice in their minds.  Other students were excited to be in the video and talking about helping their mom and sharing with their friends.  Still other students were talking about who they saw on the video, with admiration in their voices.  Each young student found that they understood what it meant to speak up, think twice and be nice.  Yet, each young student also knew they had to and planned to keep working on it. 

For older students, I observed moving responses.  Walking steadily my way, I received more than one meaningful hug and thank you for allowing them to be a participant in the video.  Chatter rapidly moved into the various options on how they might create their contest entries.  Responses of student struggles with bullying quickly surfaced in many who looked relieved that they aren’t alone.  Some students were impressed with the variety of community leaders who supported our cause.  Other students found joy in the young child of the video with such a simple meaningful message.  Still other students strove to make the cause their own, because as I presented them with current statistics, they knew that they were committed to helping me stop the cycle of violence.  Some guys found some current behavior out of control and completely uncalled for.  These older students knew how to speak up, knew to think twice and knew to be nice.  Yet, each student claimed the need to work on it. 

Those students were right on target.  This violent behavior must stop!  We must break the cycle of violence!  The Safe Place is thankful to those who partner with us to educate our youth on breaking the cycle of violence!  Together we are making a difference!