100 Mile House & District Women’s Centre Society is celebrating this year's provincial Prevention of Violence against Women Week, throughout the week of April 17-23.
The women’s centre has created and exhibited its own community Clothesline Project as a part of the effort to raise awareness of this issue that effects women, children, friends and family, as well as the community as a whole.
The Clothesline Project originated in Massachusetts in 1990. Since that time, projects have been started in communities around the world.
The Clothesline Project is a visual display that bears witness to violence against women. Each shirt is decorated to represent a particular woman's experience, and is created by the survivor herself or by someone who cares about her.
Men who have been affected by violence against women are welcome to participate.
The clothesline project has allowed thousands of women to give a face to the statistics; it is their own face.
The hope is that with strength and courage, survivors everywhere will feel empowered by using their creative "voice" to increase their own healing while bringing important awareness of this issue to the community.
This Year, the Clothesline Project was already displayed at the Canim Lake Band’s Eliza Archie Memorial School on April 18, and the 100 Mile House & District Women’s Centre on April 19.
It is also being held at Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School today (April 20) from noon to 1:30 p.m., and at the Youth Zone on April 2 from noon to 1 p.m.
Recycled T-shirts and paints will be available for creating T-shirts at the centre as well as during the display.
Anyone interested in creating a T-shirt for the display or for more information on the Clothesline Project, statistics on violence against women, and prevention of violence against women, can contact Ashleigh or Trish at 250-395-4093.
Ashleigh Bailey is the Stop the Violence counsellor at the women’s centre.