Dating abuse is, sadly, all too common; according to breakthecycle.com, one in three high school students experience physical or sexual violence—or both—from a dating partner. It can have devastating effects, such as being a factor in depression, leading to a dependency on drugs and alcohol, engaging in violent relationships, and even suicide.
Fortunately, New City's Center for Safety and Change, which offers programs and services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, had launched an innovative program for student activists committed to ending dating abuse.
SAEDA, or Student Activists Ending Dating Abuse, is the Center for Safety and Change's youth-led education and prevention program that celebrates diversity, challenges oppressive social norms, promotes leadership, and inspires youth to ultimately end gender-based violence. Any Rockland County high school student who's interested in healthy dating, youth activism, and other social justice issues can share their perspectives, demonstrate leadership—and inspire real change among their peers.
SAEDA's leadership training sessions are open to all Rockland County students from 9th through 12th grades. During the sessions, students engage in interactive discussions with their peers to learn how to stop and prevent teen dating abuse, sexual violence, and oppression.
"SAEDA inspires and empowers young people to work to make Rockland safer and more equitable for everyone," says Rowan Reyes, the Senior Director of Community Education and Social Change at the Center of Safety and Change. For budding leaders, this is a great opportunity. Adds Reyes, "For many teens, SAEDA is the key to unlocking their inner change-maker!"
The deadline to apply for the next session is October 15; see below for more details.
Program Details
Student Activists Ending Dating Abuse
Session dates: November 2-6 and 9-13 from 3:00PM - 4:30PM
Location: Zoom (Virtual)
Deadline to apply: October 15, 2020
Registration: Click here