PAGE 22, WIIITYFREE PRESS. WDNESI)AY, SMENBER 27, 1989 1. -4.Imagine is a national canjpaign of The Canadian Centre for PhiuJanthropy to increase Canadians' awareness and contribution to ail charitable and voluntýer organizations. We To bring the ý,ampaign closer to home, the Whitby Free Press is running a sern S of profiles of the needs and activities of kkal orga nization. Cail us if your organizatibn could use a boost. By Trudie Zavadovics Everyone has the right to bE safe, strong and free. It 18 to this belief that Out- reach Abuse Prevention has beer committed for the past six years. Sharin Morningstar Keenan was denied that right. The 9- year-old was raped and mur- dered in January, 1983. She is not alone. Statistics show that one in two is and one in four maies will besexually assaulted before age 18. Only 20 per cent of attackers will be strangers. Many suifer other forms of physical and emo- tional abuse. 1It was the fate of Sharin Keenan that mouided the destiny of Outreach Abuse Prevention. They have developed several programns and teachingz materials (including books and kits) desig- ned to ernpower children--peop le of ail ages to recognize and assert their right to be safe, strong and free. One of their newest programns is teaching a reactive form self- defence in high schools. "The focus is on helping kids to understand that seif-defence is about personal power,'" says founder and prograrn director Maureen Daigle. "It cornes fromn knowing and valuing why you are able to articulate cehoice, knowing you have options. "The co-ed courses help maies and females address together violence in 3ociety, the causes, the issues. "It's very im~portant not just to look at the physical learning of Outreach Abuse Prevention Purpose: to teach ail ages about abuse prevention techniques through workshops and public awareness, develop and provide resource material. Fundraising: Special events, private and corporate donations. Volunteers: Outreach provides training courses which can lead to fee for service renumeration. Contact: Outreach Abuse Prevention, 205 Bond St., Oshawa, Ontario, Phone - 432-7821 how to respond physically and aggressively to aggression. "This is not martial arts-orien- ted," says Daigle, who has trained in the states with Susan Smith, author of 'Fear or Free- dom.' "'It is based on instinctual res- ponse. It's been marvellously satisfying to work with the kids," says program facilitator Nancy O'Connor. "This ties in with abuse prevention so weiI. Not many programs focus on self- esteem or every day skills. "An interesting thing in doing the self-defence proqrams is that I've almost always nad a disclo- defienice STUDENT VOLUTNTEERSl with the * Rachelle Daigle, Tara Planting, Pete Outreach programn include (from left), Allward and Tom Dracopoulos. Fr.. Proenphoto sure," she says, referring to someone relating, for the first timé, an abusive situation. Students who have exerienced the course have said: - "Seif-defence gives you a feel- ing of inner and outer strength." - "The course gave me the idea of rny own power; helped me get over the initial embarrassment of showing it, and was a great relief of tension." - "It was very frightening being sexually assaulted. At least now, if it ever happened ag.ain, I wouidn't fee] se help- - "I feel that now I know my strengths and that I know where I stand. I arn me and I cen be anything I want ... Thanks for reminding me who I arn." - "I think the class was a lot of fun and taught us a great deai. I think it should be taught at ieast once a year in every class." Outreacli is booked to do five of the 17 hi gh schools in Durham Region. Included in the five is Whitbyr's Anderson CVI. Weève had a lot of interest frorn others," says O'Connor. They are aiso under contract to perforn daycare training for pre- schoolers. Through niglit school courses, Outreach runs a self defence pro- gram for women cailed 'Every Wornan Can,' and are aiso offer-, in ga course for seniors. Sx years ago few talked or even acknowledged the perva- siveness of chi Id abuse. This year, the rnonth of September has been designated Chuld Abuse Prevention Month. "I wouid eventually like to see chuld abuse prevention in al schoois," says e9gý "The therne is constant whether they be preschooiers, teens or seniors - everyone has the right to feel safe, strong and LETTf--ER.* Coverage> appreciated To the editor. Our staff lias been tracking, with great interest, coyerage of the IMAGIN program by.,,ttq Whitby F'ree Press. We are delighted that your newspaper has chosen te bring the caznpaign dloser te home by featuring a regular coluran that focuses on the non-profit and charitable cornmunity. It is this type of initiative that wiil bring IAGI&E, and the message that encourages greater giving and volunteering, te al Canadians. Very rnany thanks te you and your staff for recognizing the Community members neededý as volimte ers. awareness program and br.iging it te, your readers. We look forward te supplying you with further information as the program progresses. Sinoerely yours, September is here, which means siummer is conung te a close. Want sornethlng te occupy Your i f s0, try your hand at volunte g. The Oshawa and District Association for Coemnunity Living provides supports and services te individuels with developniental handicaps in the Oshawa area and we need caring cornxunity members te f11l the folowing volunteer postions: -Recreational support volunteers te assist children and adulte in recreational/leisure activities ia the area. -Mals ve ,is in equirecL If you enjoy swimnming and country and western music this is the oe for you. -Are you sports-oriented? Do you erjoy going te a basebali or soccer garne? If se, have you ever thought of including somneone else lin your plans? -A big sister is needed for a five-year-oid girl. Mmne required would be on weekends. Female over 19 years of age is 'referred. -Enjoy long walks, movies, mac o u ihweo h -Volunteer is needed to assiet a young boy deliver his papers. --& nunIber of opportunities eiat if you have serne computer baclcgrouncj. Can You provide a helping hand? Ceal-Suzanne Burton, volunteer co-ordinater, at 576-3011. Calling ainght owls Volunteers are needed for Distress Centre Durhan, a confidential 24-hour hotline. More people are calling te talk about their probierns, so the service is busier than it hes ever been. The incréase lias put a strain on volunteer resources, especafly over-nigliters, whose shift begin at Il p.m. patient. They will be trained te be a good listener and able to help A special shift lias been created for niglit shift workers. To take up the challenge, cal Npeded are people w arer> 723r4461 anytime -and ant c9rnassinat~ telran.!jnid appliè?aUon willkbe sent. ~ .1 'J Outreach the- .best il-wl 1