The Northern Society for Domestic Peace (NSDP) knows that post-secondary is a vital time in the education process.
That is why they are making sure students in the Bulkley Valley and Lakes District are prepared heading into unfamiliar territory.
“We have a lot of rural and indigenous students in the region who will be leaving their support networks in the fall for either college or university,” says Executive Administrator at the NSDP, Airika Owen ” and that is why we’re offering sexual assault presentations to students in the area. Last year, we received funding from the BC Department of Justice and piloted this program with female students in the region. This year, we have revamped that program and will offer it to male graduating students.”
In addition to offering presentations, Owen says they are working on another cool initiative with the funds they received this year.
“We live in a technological society so instead of going the traditional pamphlet route, we have decided to develop a website to offer this information. We are currently working with Bachrach Communications to develop an online resource where students anywhere in BC can go online and find what sexual assault resources are available in their region of the province. There will also be additional information such as laws regarding sexual assault and consent. We are anticipating this service will be operational sometime in July, just in time for students to access it for the fall semester.”
Owen says she has one final message for students heading into uncharted territory for the first time.
“Be aware of your surroundings. Students will be making new friends and creating a new social network very quickly and sometime’s that can pose a risk. Sexual assaults on campuses are most likely to occur within the first 8 weeks of the semester. That’s not to say it won’t happen in a later term, but it’s most likely to happen when a student is in a fresh, new environment.”
More on the Northern Society for Domestic Peace can be found here.