Region II early childhood students learn about domestic violence, volunteer to make a difference
Recently, the Early Childhood Program at the Region Two School of Applied Technology in Houlton was commended for its Service Learning Project. Through the school year, students worked collectively with the Battered Woman’s Project to promote awareness of domestic violence in the community.
Through their work, the students presented their project and participated in service learning events with students from schools throughout New England at the Service Learning Summit in Portland on March 26-27. Region Two students illustrated their project in front of almost 500 people, placing in the top three projects.
Because of their hard work, the students will be attending an April 30 luncheon in Augusta with Governor Baldacci. At that time, students will accept a plaque of recognition for the Service Learning Program on behalf of Region Two School of Applied Technology.
“The Service Learning Project was rewarding and positive for all members involved,” said Sandy Qualey, teacher.
Qualey selected the project, prompting recognition and awareness, to challenges students may encounter while working with children.
“They worked diligently on various types of fund-raisers, making displays, posters and ribbons and also in participating in trainings, presentations and educational programs sponsored by the Battered Woman’s Project,” said Qualey, “all in an effort to raise awareness and understanding.”
The students’ quest began with October Domestic Violence Awareness month, as they helped the staff of the Battered Women’s Project to hang large purple ribbons throughout the town, created posters and attended the annual Vigil, walking with victims, and participating in a tree-lighting ceremony to remember victims of domestic violence.
During October, Leslie Gervais of the Battered Women’s Project, held two trainings on “Healthy Relationships.”
“Our class opened the training to the entire school and invited all students and teachers to attend,” explained Qualey. “We had an attendance of 36 at the first training and 28 at the second.”
At the end of November and start of December, the students sponsored a Food Drive for the women’s shelter after discovering their food bank was being depleted due to budget cuts and a decrease in donations during the holidays.
“The girls wanted to help,” Qualey said. “They collected five boxes of food containing over 500 food items.”
Not stopping there, after winter vacation, the girls resumed their activities. They visited the Battered Woman’s Project Transition house, and while there toured one of the apartments where some of the victims stay while in care. They also met all the staff of the Battered Woman’s Project, who shared information about each of their jobs, how they work with victims, the struggles of working under the financial barriers, and many other interesting facts.
Once finished with the tour and the question/answer session, Karan Wotton, an employee from the project, came back to the classroom to present information on Restraining Orders and Orders of Protection, explaining how each of these differed and who needs them, along with the court process.
In February, Gervais returned and worked with her in developing an educational training for younger students to promote healthy relationships and develop an understanding of why victims sometimes make the choice to stay in unhealthy relationships.
“They participated in a role-play situation, giving advice and feedback to the training, while helping to make the necessary alterations so information would be best understood by junior high students,” Qualey explained.
Later in the month, Gervais made a donation of books to the class. Some books were to read to the younger children in the program, while others were stories of domestic violence for teens.
The girls were active again in March with another fund-raiser, bringing in money to purchase feminine hygiene products necessary for the women in shelter. In just over two hours, the girls were able to collect $500. From there, they formulated additional funds to collect more feminine hygiene products, underwear, pajamas and other necessary personal items often overlooked when leaving in an emergency situation.
The students crafted and posted a display at the Houlton Outreach Center, which remained there for the entire month and they also aired public service announcements throughout March.
“The girls went to the WHOU radio station where they were assisted in creating four different public service announcements, describing the fund raiser they were doing and the product drive,” said Qualey.
This month, the girls’ project culminated on April 6 with Child Abuse Awareness Month, as the girls donated 50 backpacks filled with items such as shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, notebooks, toys, shavers, Q-tips and sippy cups, blankets, Teddy bears, nail clippers, combs, brushes, lotions and other personal care items that may be left behind when leaving in a hurry.
To complete the service learning project, high school students participated in one final educational training entitled, “The Effects of Domestic Violence on Young Children.”
“Leslie came twice to make this presentation,” said Qualey. “Again, the workshops were opened to the students and teachers within the school. The first presentation held an audience of 15, while the second was to an audience of 19.”
Gervais also came in to visit on April 9, reading the story “I Call My Hand Gentle” to the toddlers in the Early Childhood Program’s playgroup.
“The girls helped the children make a “gentle hand” to take home as a reminder not to hit,” Qualey added.
The girls in the program are a credit to Region Two, as they were persistent in forging ideas and working toward a goal.
“The project was done primarily during school hours,” said Qualey, “I am very proud of the girls and all the hard work they have done over the school year. They were willing and eager to get involved in every portion of the project, never once complaining about the amount of time that was being taken from their class, even though regular class assignments were still given and due on time.
“They knew they were given a high expectation, along with a difficult challenge,” added Qualey. “They became a very close-knit class, encouraging each other and easily working together on all tasks. It has been a wonderful experience for everyone involved. I believe the girls themselves are proud of the work they have done and proud of each other. They have seen how they can make a difference.”
