Date: Tuesday, February 8th 4:00-6:30 pm

The AMS Sexual Assault Support Centre (SASC) will be hosting a special presentation on anti-violence work and communication given by Safeteen, a local organization that, despite its name, provides insightful and effective ways of assertive, non-violent communication for people of all ages. There will be light snacks and drinks provided. We are looking to recruit about 10 men and 10 women to attend this free workshop, which is an awesome opportunity for students involved in the Peer Programs. The first people to respond who are interested (if any) will be the ones who will be able to attend.

To Register: People who are interested in attending must RSVP as soon as possible to Emily at mailto:sascoutreach@ams.ubc.ca preferably by Monday evening (February 7).

Below is a more detailed description of what this presentation will be about.

What is Safeteen?

Safeteen is an amazing program that started right here in Vancouver by a woman named Anita Roberts.

Here is a description of their program from their website, http://safeteen.ca/:

With a focus on gender esteem building, the SAFETEEN programs teach aunique, youth-based assertiveness model which has been integrated intocurricula in many schools locally, nationally and internationally. This model, embraced by teens and praised by educators and parents, provides a violence prevention “language” that can be integrated into school and family culture.

The process is designed to provide youth with tools to identify theirown voice of wisdom and to speak their truth from a wise and solid place. When our daughters and sons are faced with conflict and they feel they must choose between violence and victimization, these skills offer them another choice: a powerful alternative to violence.

This program, though its focus is on teens in high-school, is very much applicable to adults.

This presentation will hopefully be given to student leaders on campus who can help change the culture at UBC around sexual assault and wouldbe able to further disseminate the message given at the Safeteen program to their peers and friends, which in turn will hopefully make campus safer, and students stronger. This is a model of communication and leadership that is also highly complementary to programs like Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which encourages bystander intervention and bringing about a whole new attitude when facing the issue of sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence on campus.