THE Angelic Ladies Society (ALS), a non-profit that works with adolescent girls and young adults, and the recipient of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), remains vigilant in addressing the persistent challenges impacting young girls.

Over a period of five months (from February to June 2023), the group actively engaged 300 girls aged 12-16 from six high schools in St Thomas, alongside 30 boys, through its #SheSpeaks project. The project is strategically crafted as sensitisation training aimed at informing and engaging the most vulnerable students, seeking to empower and provide support to academic staff, grade supervisors, and the guidance counselling units in their schools.

During interactions, students shared their fears of social isolation and stigma within their communities when reporting incidents, citing instances where disclosures made at home were spread as damaging gossip. Despite recognising guidance counsellors as their primary support, there remained a distrust of teachers due to concerns about privacy.

Moreover, the project uncovered challenges related to loyal friendships, economic constraints at home, and vulnerability to sexual grooming among students, emphasising the urgent need for meaningful relationships and consistent support to foster resilience.

“The project is dedicated to addressing the prevalence of sexual assault incidences in the parish of St Thomas. It aims to achieve this by raising awareness about the harsh realities faced by vulnerable young women, guiding the community towards available resources for support, and presenting crucial data and information concerning sexual violence. Additionally, the project serves as a platform for survivors to #SpeakUp and break the silence surrounding these traumatic experiences,” explained Sara-Lou Morgan-Walker, founder and executive director of ALS.

Of the 301 girls who participated in the #SheSpeaks project, representing a participation rate of 90 per cent, 271 completed the survey, revealing that 32 per cent (or 98) had experienced sexual assault. Additionally, 27 per cent (or 82) knew someone who had been a victim or survivor. The majority of participants were aged 12 (34 per cent), followed by 13-year-olds (31 per cent) and 14-year-olds (14 per cent). Common communities of residence included Yallahs, Lyssons, Trinityville, and Seaforth. Alarmingly, incidents often occurred in familiar settings, with 35 per cent happening at home and 25 per cent at school, underscoring the urgent need for targeted interventions and support mechanisms in these spaces.

“In a bid to tackle the alarming issue of sexual violence among students, the Angelic Ladies Society launched the #SheSpeaks project, generously funded by the CFLI,” said Morgan-Walker.

The CFLI provides modest funding for small-scale, high-impact projects in more than 120 countries.

“The project aims to raise awareness, provide support to girls in high schools, and engage middle managers within educational institutions. These workshops delve into the root causes behind students’ reluctance to report incidents of sexual assault — fear of blame, disbelief, and the daunting prospect of social stigma or online harassment loom large, as highlighted by both qualitative and quantitative data gathered during the sessions,“ Morgan-Walker added.

With over 300 girls and over a hundred teachers engaged across the high schools, the #SheSpeaks project is poised to deliver its final statistics and recommendations at a closing ceremony in March.

The 153 teachers, including individuals from various roles such as dean of discipline, vice-principals, and heads of department, encountered challenges in identifying subtle signs of sexual violence among students, which often manifested as behavioural issues. Navigating legal and reporting procedures, as well as providing adequate support amid limited training and resources, posed additional hurdles.

The guidance counselling units sought assistance from academic staff and middle managers to navigate reporting procedures and offer counselling, underscoring the need for collaboration with agencies in this field.

Nonetheless, their involvement in the #SheSpeaks project fostered discussions on creating safer environments and accessing support systems for vulnerable students, promoting a more informed and proactive approach to addressing sexual violence within the school community.

Coming out of the #SheSpeaks campaign, ALS will be wrapping up and meeting their reporting obligations to the High Commission of Canada, as recipients of the CFLI. However, in April, they are looking to continue efforts in raising awareness and supporting survivors of sexual assault.

The Angelic Ladies Society eagerly anticipates hosting a gallery viewing of advocacy photos in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month this April. Additionally, they’re excited to announce the fourth annual Granville Childcare Facility Spiritual Enrichment Week, themed ‘Masterpiece’.

“As we prepare for this event, we welcome donations and partnerships to ensure its success. If you’re interested in supporting or partnering with us, please visit the ‘Support Us’ page on our website at angelicladiessociety.org,” urged Morgan-Walker.