YWCA of Silicon Valley - A Week without Violence

Week without Violence®

October 12 - 18, 2008
Raise Awareness and Encourage Change by achieving a "Victory over Violence "

The YWCA Week without Violence® represents our mission to create a vision of harmony; free of violence and full of peace within our homes, our classrooms, our businesses, our communities, our nation, and ultimately our world. Our YWCA promotes a violence-free world, welcoming individuals, communities, and organizations throughout Silicon Valley to partner and participate during the Week Without Violence®.

The Week Without Violence® is an annual YWCA-wide campaign held during the third week of October to raise public awareness about violence in our homes and our communities; to create dialogue; and to encourage alternatives. For over 100 years, the YWCA of Silicon Valley has been at the forefront of Santa Clara County in supporting a safer community through education that provides women, children, and families with opportunities for positive growth and achievement.

We are not going to tolerate another woman or girl becoming a victim of violence. This year, the YWCA is reaching out locally and nationally through innovative mediums to share our message with students, parents, educators, legislators and everyone in between to let them know that they can take a stand against violence.

Click on the photo above left to go to the National YWCA Week Without Violence® website to find out more.

During the 2007 YWCA Week Without Violence®

Peace Tree Planting Ceremony
Thank you for joining YWCA staff, supporters, and advocates on Thursday, October 18th, for the planting of our Peace Tree in Discovery Meadow. Planted with the assistance of the San Jose Parks Services and Our City Forest, the Peace Tree commemorates our community members that have experienced violence and will serve as a place of peaceful contemplation for survivors of violence and their advocates.

Counseling Center
The YWCA of Silicon Valley Counseling Center distributed "10 Tips to Expressing Healthy Anger". Click here for a downloadable mini-poster.

Child Care Centers:
Monday: Children, families, and staff signed the non-violence pledge and received purple ribbons to wear in support during the week.

Tuesday: Children were encouraged to evaluate the “Violence Quotient” with discussion of common media messaging. Materials included age-appropriate TV programs, songs, ad campaigns, etc.

Wednesday: Children worked with clay, paint, and other raw materials to find new ways to release angry feelings.

Thursday: Children exercised Random Acts of Kindness. Centers were provided a copy of “Random Acts of Kindness for Kids” to read to the children through out the week. Each act of kindness earned children points toward prizes.

Friday: Each center participated in “Up, Up, and Away with Violence.” Centers released balloons with kind words. In addition, children participated in other events such as kite flying, blowing through straws to race boats, etc.

Family Enrichment Center:

Information on violence prevention, including domestic violence
was distributed in our workshops.
Workshop participants discussed the role of parents
in violence prevention and received our Parenting Tips handout.
Wednesday Supervised Visitation monitors and facilitators
attended a training on Domestic Violence from Next Door Solutions.

Youth Services Program:
Monday: Stopping Racism at Its Track
The week started with a short introduction on the history and purpose of the YWCA Week without Violence. Emphasis was placed on the issues of racism and stereotypes. Students discussed how to recognize and eliminate racism and stereotypes from their lives.

Tuesday: Dating Violence (Date Rape)
Students discussed and became educated on the difficult topic of sexual assault. Rights, gender roles, stereotypes, and forms of assault were discussed. Students learned the dynamics of sexual assault and will better understand how to help themselves and each other if they are a victim of sexual violence.

Wednesday: Gang Violence
Students learned about gang violence and how it effects them. Discussion included understanding the consequences of joining gangs and how to prevent gang involvement.

Thursday: Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships.
A workshop was provided to assist students in understanding the components of an abusive relationship. Aspects of healthy vs. unhealthy relationships were examined. The cycle of violence was reviewed, as well as why individuals remain in an abusive relationship. Discussion included how to leave an abusive relationship, as well as how to help yourself or a friend to leave an abusive situation.

Friday: The Media and Violence
The influence of violence in all aspects of popular media and how media related violence impacts youth was discussed. Our students became more aware of the violence they view in movies, TV, video games, etc., and how it may impact their lives.


	Tribute to Women

	Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®

	A Week without Violence®

	YWCA Annual Luncheon

	Unique Lives

For more information on A Week without Violence®, please call the YWCA at (408) 295-4011, ext. 221 or e-mail us at
funddev@ywca-sv.org.

The YWCA advocates for policies that will help eliminate violence against women, children, and their families. And through its programs, the YWCA builds communities in which all people are ensured safety and equal protection under the law.

Imagine
7 Days
168 Hours
10,080 Minutes
604,080 Seconds
Without Violence

YWCA's across the country mark the twelfth Annual
YWCA Week Without Violence®. Read more...

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October is
Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Every 2 ½ minutes, someone in the United States is sexually assaulted.
One in three women has been a victim of domestic violence.
Twenty-five percent of college women have been raped.
Seventy percent of cyberstalking victims are female.
Forty percent of teenage girls ages 14 to 17 say they know someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend.
More than 5.7 million youth are estimated to be involved in bullying.
HOMICIDE is the leading cause of death for all pregnant women.
18,000 to 20,000 of the victims of human trafficking are trafficked INTO the United States ANNUALLY..