CALGARY- A local organization aimed at preventing child abuse has come up with a novel way to look for solutions: getting ideas from young people.
On Wednesday, the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre gathered groups made up of front-line workers like police officers, members of corporate Calgary, politicians and young students. They traded ideas about how to help children in crisis, and make it easier for them to seek help.
“You can’t describe the feeling it gives you, the overwhelming pride that you can take part in something like this,” explains high school student Brad Cummer.
“People have to start talking about this to solve the problem, to get to the root of this.”
Former hockey player Sheldon Kennedy, who himself was a victim of abuse, can’t help but wonder how his life would have been different if such conversations had started earlier.
“I never heard of these issues before in my life,” said Kennedy. “I didn’t know what I could do, where I could do.”
Alberta’s justice minister added that the meeting will help give the government new ideas about how to prevent abuse, and work towards the goal of ending such crimes in the province.
Comments