Awatapu College students take part in 'Loves Me Not'
Awatapu College students take part in 'Loves Me Not'
Awatapu College were part of the first group of students in Palmerston North to be involved in Loves Me Not, a nationwide programme aimed at educating young New Zealanders on family harm.
The programme was opened at
the college by Manawatu Area Commander, Inspector Sarah
Stewart, on 28 March 2017.
The initiative that was set
up by the Sophie Elliot Foundation, formed to raise
awareness of family harm.
“I commend Awatapu College
and our community for taking a proactive approach to
educating our young people on healthy and safe
relationships,” Inspector Stewart says.
“I believe
this programme will have a significant impact on the future
safety of our students and our community.”
The
programme uses interactive videos, group discussions and
exercises to help students understand the signs of what
makes a relationship healthy or unhealthy.
It covers
six core topics, including healthy relationships, consent,
sexual consent, barriers to healthy relationships, stepping
up and interventions.
New Zealand Police are one of
several organisations working with the foundation to support
and facilitate the program, which also includes the Highbury
Whanau Centre, Te Manawa Social Services, Manline, Child
Youth and Family, and staff from Awatapu
College.
“We fully support students being involved
in learning about these topics early in the belief that the
programme will help to reduce the incidence of family harm
in their future,” says Senior Constable Emily McMellon, a
Youth Aid Officer who helped organise the program to be
hosted at the college.
Awatapu College Principal Gary
Yeatman says he’s grateful to the community and Police for
their assistance in addressing the issue of family
harm.
“It is important that we as schools be
proactive in our approach to increasing education around
these issues to help keep our young people safe,” he
says.
Awapatu students gave the course great feedback,
with many saying they found the course extremely worthwhile,
as it taught them how to recognise the signs of a harmful
relationship, as well how they can step in to help
others.
Organisers and Police are hopeful that the
programme will soon be offered at more schools in the
Palmerston North
area.
ENDS