YWCA brings anti-violence message to students

YWCA Moncton is trying to end violence against women by speaking to young people about gender-based violence.

It partly funds itsprogram through a popular annual event called Walk A Mile in Her Shoes, which will happen later this month.

The organization is also gearing up for its Week Without Violence, which ends on the Oct. 21 with the walk.

The event encourages men and women to walk one mile down Main Street in Moncton in high heel shoes.

• More than 200 Walk A Mile In Her Shoes through downtown Calgary
• Inuvik men ready to Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
• Walk a Mile in Her Shoes

While that event is lighthearted, YMCA communications managerAlicia Duffy says there are serious undertones, as the goal is to get men to think about the role they can play to end violence against women.

And that's the message it is also bringing to boys and girls at the middle school level.

"The reason we reach out to middle school, and even high school-[aged]young women is that we understand ... that demographic is more susceptible to violence, more vulnerable to it especially during their child-bearing years," Duffy said.

Information Morning - Moncton7:11Alicia Duffy - Walk a Mile

Moncton's YWCA communications and resource manager explains how the funding from this year's Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event will be used to teach young people about healthy relationshipsThe ultimate goal is violence prevention before it happens.

Duffy said between middle school and high school the pressures on young women change.

"So we really want to reach them at that age and foster those healthy relationships and give them the tools they need to be able to be successful in high school and past that," she said.

"We understand that early trauma can really set a path and create lots of barriers to success."

Getting the message out early

The YWCA wants to get the message out to students at an early agethat help and supports are available before the barriers are too large to overcome.

Conferences are held for Grade 7 and Grade 8 students where they are taught about healthy relationships, becoming media savvy, body image, stereotypes, and how to view media with a critical eye.

Healthy relationships are the basis of prevention, whether those relationships be with parents, peers, teachers, or the community, said Duffy.

The program also shows students how to set safe boundaries and articulate them.

Duffy said youth often feel isolated, but are normally more open to getting help if they know its available, and that's also part of the conferences.

Registration for the Walk a Mile in Her Shows event closes Friday Oct. 7 and will take place on Oct. 21.

The Week without Violence will also feature a Take Back the Night march on Tuesday, Oct. 18.