More education translates to less victimization: Wuerch
June 21, 2002, Michelle Strutzenberger
Statistics show that about half of the female population over the age of 16 have experienced at least one incident of sexual or physical violence. "That's why it's so important to educate people around violence and violence prevention," says Janice Wuerch of the YWCA of Peterborough, Victoria and Haliburton. "The better educated we become, the less likely we are to find ourselves in a position of victimization."

This past school year, Janice offered workshops to intermediate and high school students in the Peterborough area around violence in relationships. The workshops were designed to help students recognize the signs of an unhealthy relationship.

Through discussions, students came to an understanding of what kinds of violence might be seen in unhealthy relationships, why people try to exercise power and control over someone else, and why it is difficult for many to leave violent relationships.

The workshop also included the creation of a list of all the people and places in the community that victims of violence could go to for help. "We tried to make it as specific and pertinent to their area as possible," says Janice. "So the students would know the names of people in the community and school where they could go to for help."

Janice offered the workshop to classes in six different schools in the Peterborough area. The workshop was funded by the Ministry of Education's School-Based Services (SBS) program, which provides funding to school boards to work with local community-based agencies whose prime mandate is to deliver services to assaulted women and children.

Janice also offered in-services to teachers and school-staff around dating and family violence. As well, she provided individual counseling and group work to students concerned about family violence or dating violence.

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