Georgetown students took a step towards creating a world without domestic violence yesterday.
All of Georgetown Elementary School’s 56 students took part in a walk of silence to honour victims of abuse as part of P.E.I.’s Family Violence Prevention Week.
“It absolutely makes me happy to see so many people coming together for a common cause,” said Grade 8 student Kade Rafuse.
Kade and several other students spoke during an assembly prior to the walk and urged classmates to take a stand if they know of child, spousal or elder abuse.
“I encourage Georgetown and all P.E.I. residents to unite and work for a safer future for all. Domestic abuse is an uncommon thought in the average mind, but it happens to someone somewhere every minute of every day.”
Kade Rafuse, Grade 8 student at Georgetown Elementary School
“I encourage everyone who has been abused or knows someone who’s a victim of abuse to speak up, call 911, talk to a school counsellor or an official.”
Student Eden Boudreau also shared a message with classmates who may be suffering from abuse.
She urged them to stay strong.
“What’s happening to you is not OK, it must hurt, but you need to stay strong,” said Eden. “I know it must be hard, but you can do it. You can do anything. There’s always an option for help and I support you.”
The week, which is co-ordinated by the Premier’s Action Committee on Family Violence Prevention, runs, Feb. 11-17.
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Georgetown principal Trevor George felt the walk went well and that it was a good way to raise awareness of the sensitive issue with students.
“There are lots of issues people don’t like to talk about, so anytime you can make talking about these things more normal, it’s going to help people who are in a difficult situation,” said George. “What I really liked seeing was some of the (student) leaders in our school stepping up and talking about it.”
The event also saw participation from some parents, MLAs, RCMP, mayor Lewis Lavandier and Coun. Cindy MacLean.
MacLean said she was proud of the students while also crediting town CAO Dorothy Macdonald and administrative assistant Kerri O’Brien for their part in organizing the walk.
Lavandier told students it was important to be aware of the issue, which affects lives of all over Canada.
“Because in every province, even Prince Edward Island and even in Georgetown, these things can happen, and we have to be aware of what’s going on in our homes,” said Lavandier.
More information on the week is available at www.stopfamilyviolence.pe.ca.
