Every child deserves to live, learn and play in a safe environment. Unfortunately, every day thousands of children and youth are harmed by people they know and often trust.
The effects of abuse and violence can be long-lasting and devastating. Over time, abused children can become withdrawn, lose interest in school and suffer from a range of psychological and physical problems, including:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Substance addition, and
- Suicidal thoughts and suicide
There is hope. Adults, have the power – through prevention education and awareness building – to keep children and youth safe. Education is the key to prevention of abuse, bullying, violence and exploitation. It is everyone’s job to protect kids and help them realize their rights to be kids.
With your help, the Canadian Red Cross can continue working to keep abuse and violence out of the lives of children right here in Manitoba.
Recognizing that violence and abuse is preventable, Red Cross developed the RespectEd: Violence & Abuse Prevention program – an educational program aimed at creating safe environments, teaching kids and adults what healthy relationships look and feel like, how to recognize the signs of violence and abuse and where to get help. The Red Cross has been providing Violence and Abuse education for over 25 years and in that time has reached more than 4 million Canadian children, youth and adults.
At the end-of-the-day we all share the common goal of living in a community where every member-especially our kids-feels safe and secure.
Your help is needed. Your support will bring education and awareness to more kids and adults helping them to be better at recognizing the signs of abuse and feel empowered to prevent the abuse and violence that surrounds them.