Wildcats catch the attention of a Canadian Recording artist
For the past several months students in the Grade 12 dance class at Widdifiled have been working on their 'Dancing for a Purpose' project for 'Shelternet' and their efforts have caught the attention of national recording artist Amy Sky.
For the past several months students in the Grade 12 dance class at Widdifiled have been working on their 'Dancing for a Purpose' project for 'Shelternet' and their efforts have caught the attention of national recording artist Amy Sky.
Dancing for a Purpose is part of the dancers’ course as a culminating activity where the students research their chosen charity and develop an understanding on how they can help make a difference in their community through the arts.
For the month of April the students have not only been developing and rehearsing their dance numbers for the recital, but they have gone beyond the requirements of their class by hosting other events for the cause in order to raise awareness, promote the show and raise money. It is the effort put forth by the senior class to help expand Sheternet's reach to the local level that caught the attention of Sky and she sent a congratulatory note applauding the work of the students.
“There are many women and children, who find themselves in abusive domestic situations, who need help to transition to a safe living environment. Shelternet helps these women get the information they need, in order to make the move that could very well save their lives.
I applaud you for using your artistic talents to make the world a safer and better place for women and children at risk!"
Students Cassandra Preston and Ashley Boucher tell BayToday that they found out about Shelternet through their teacher Jocelyn Bell and that the site has been on the national scene for a decade now .
“Sheternet is a website and it's for abused women and children or families, and they can go on there and look in their local area to see if there are any shelters in their area that they can go to and escape to for some help,” explains Preston.
“So for North Bay if you were looking up a shelter you would find the Nipissing Transition House.”
“There are things on there that tell you what to do if you are being abused like it will tell you how to hide stuff while you're searching online,” notes Boucher.
Boucher and Preston also explain that the site is not just about indicating where shelters are that women can flee to but gives steps on how to be protected from an abusive partner while you search for help, as well as education on the signs that someone might be being abused.
“Also if you think a friend is being abused ways to approach her or him or them and it is not just a site to find somewhere to go it's learning about the whole situation and solving the problem,” says Preston.
“I'm sure a lot of people will go read up on it and won't even realize that they're being abused, but once they go read up on it they're like oh this is happening to me,” adds Boucher.
“There are actually stories on there people have been brave enough to put online for everyone to read and then there's people that know now this isn't right, it's not just me,” says Preston.
Both girls say doing the research on the site has opened their eyes and they are aware that this isn't an issue worlds away that it can happen close to home.
“Well I think now that we know about it we are more aware, so if we do see something going on we can be like oh why don't you go check this website out and it is helping people get more aware too,” says Boucher.
“Another one of the initiatives we are going to start is to make posters letting people know that Shelternet exists. And if you (they) want to look up about being abused or stuff like that you can go to the website and it will give you all the information. So it's not just helping people it is bringing awareness too,” adds Preston.
“I've learned that it is not just woman that are being abused, that it is children and young adults and how difficult it is for someone to come out and say that they have been abused by someone and the difference scenarios they have been put in and how much it would help if they had somewhere to connect and relate with others,”
On top of the show which takes place tonight (Wednesday) the class has also hosted a BBQ, bake sale and car wash in an effort to raise extra funds to further support Shelternet.
“The money will go to Shelternet but will find its way back to North Bay so it's not just helping North Bay it is helping every woman being abused in Canada,” states Preston.
Show time tonight (Wednesday) at the Widdifield Theatre on Ski Club road is 7:30pm sharp and tickets which are $5 each are available at the door.
Amy Sky's complete note to the class is below.
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To the students: One of my favorite sayings is Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. -Margaret Mead
As an artist, I have been involved in many causes. When you are fortunate to have the eyes and ears of people for creating art, it is a wonderful opportunity to help people connect with their better selves- that part of all of us who want to make the world a better place.
Please see attached info about Shelternet. There are many women and childern, who find themselves in abusive domestic situations, who need help to transition to a safe living environment.Shelternet helps these women get the information they need, in order to make the move that could very well save their lives.
I applaud you for using your artistic talents to make the world a safer and better place for women and children at risk!
