The Citizen, 1989-02-22, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1989.
Child abuse puppet program
needs local volunteers
Joanne, Stephen and Nam are
special kids who need help getting
to school.
They are the “Kids on the
Block” and they want to talk to
other children about child abuse.
But they need caring adults to help
them to get to school and to bring
their child-abuse prevention mess
age to life.
The Kids on the Block are part of
a school-based child-abuse preven
tion program organized by the
Community Child Abuse Coordina
ting Committee, a community-bas
ed committee working to prevent
child abuse in Huron County and to
better serve families where abuse
has occurred.
Nearly as big as real children,
the Kids on the Block puppets are
already visiting schools in both the
public and separate system across
Huron County. They teach children
to avoid or defend themselves
against physically and sexually
abusive situations.
But more volunteer puppeteers
are needed, particularly from the
Blyth area, says Community Child
Abuse Co-orindator Mary Shel.
“It’s a great opportunity for
parents staying at home with their
children, people who are retired, or
anyone with a few hours to spare
each week during the regular
school day,” said Sehl.
She said volunteers must be
enthusiastic, enjoy children, and be
in fairly good physical condition.
Having access to a car is an asset.
But no previous experience in
puppetry is required.
A recent study of sexual abuse
allegations received by children’s
aid societies in Western Ontario
found children between six and ten
years of age to be at highest risk of
sexual abuse. More than 150
substantiated reports of child
abuse and neglect have been
investigated since 1986 in Huron
County alone.
“School-based prevention pro
grams like the Kids on the Block
are one of the best ways we know to
counter this risk,” said Sehl.
“The greatest barrier to prevent
ing child abuse - both physical and
sexual - is secrecy. No one can help
families as long as the problem
remains a secret.”
The Kids on the Block program
encourages children to seek help if
they are being abused and teaches
them the problem-solving skills to
avoid abusive situations. It also
helps children to recognize what
child abuse is and what it is not.
For example, Nam thinks he is
being abused when his father
pushes him out of the way of a
moving lawn mower. And when
ever his mother’s friend Shirley
visits, she hugs him and pinches
his cheek. But Stephen sets him
straight.
“Just cause you don’t like some
of the things your parents do,
doesn’t mean they’re abusing
you,” he says.
And by talking about her own
experience of sexual abuse and
how she got help, Joanne explains
the difference between well-mean
ing adults who kiss or hug hellos
and those whose actions are sexu
ally abusive. Volunteers bring Jo
anne, Nam, and Stephen to life
using a Japanese style of puppetry
known as bunraku, which requires
so special expertise.
A two-day training session on
puppetry skills and child-abuse
issues is aimed at preparing puppe
teers for the classroom. “The Kids
on the Block provide an exciting
and rewarding opportunity for vol
unteers to make a difference in
some child’s life,” says Shel.
People interested in learning
more about becoming a Kids on the
Block volunteer can reach Mary
Shel at 524-5461 or c/o the Com
munity Child Abuse Co-ordinating
Committee, Box 456, Goderich,
Ontario - N7A 4C7.
IFOR BEST SELECTION
Iu-Mers
Lingerie & Gifts
523-4988
Crime Stoppers I
HURRY IN TODAY
159 Dinsley St. E., Blyth
Dressing
Room
Only
523-4955
I
Crime Stoppers and the On
tario Provincial Police are seek
ing your assistance to help solve
this break and enter.
On February 1st, of this year,
a woman returned to her Col-
borne Township farm house
after shopping. Upon entering
the home, she noticed her
television and several other
valuable household items, had
been moved. Entering the kit
chen with her groceries, two
men suddenly came running out
of a bathroom. As she reached
Crime
of the week
for the phone to call police, the
second man pulled the phone
from her hand. Both escaped
without any of the household
items.
One man is described as 20-25
yrs. old, longish blonde hair,
slight build and wearing blue
jeans. The victim was able to
help a police artist prepare a
composite drawing which is
seen here. The suspect is 20 to
25 yrs. old, 5’2” to 5’3”, slight
build, , short dark hair and a
tanned complexion. He was
wearing a light navy blue jacket
and blue jeans. The pair left the
scene in a medium blue, older
car.
If you have any information
about this or any other serious
crime call Crime Stoppers toll
free at 1-800-265-1777. You will
not be required to testify in
court or reveal your identity at
any time. If an arrest is made
you will get a cash reward from
$50 to $1,000. Remember we
pay cash for clues!
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