No means No...Prevent Sexual Assault

     

       One…Two…Three…Four. Every 107 seconds someone is sexually assaulted in the U.S. When someone is sexually assaulted they are forced into sexual activity when they don’t consent to it; this issue is something that not only plagues the U.S, but the whole world in every moment of every day. Sexual assault is something that truly speaks to me because as a person, when your sexually assaulted not only are they taking away something that belongs to you, but their also taking away the person you used to be. When we hear the stories of these people; men and women, we are able to see the scars and the brokenness reflected on their faces, but nothing compares to the real hurt they have experienced. This is an issue that I was really interested in not only because it’s an issue that plagues our society, but also because I once knew someone who had gone through this experience. Now that we’re seeing it more and more it looks to be that a spotlight is actually being shined on this issue. I recently learned of an organization called ‘RAINN’ (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network); this organization helps educate the public on sexual assault, helps prevent sexual assault, and provides services to victims.

     

A few things to know about this organization are:

                 ·         RAINN provides personal support through their hotlines for sexually assaulted victims

                 ·         Have RAINN Day on the Third Thursday of September to raise awareness

                 ·         92 cents of every $1 goes directly to preventing sexual violence and helping Victims

                 ·         RAINN reaches out to the media everyday to update them on statistics and messages                         about sexual assault.

                 ·         To raise awareness they plan RAINN day on colleges around the U.S

                 ·         RAINN is partnered with General Mills, ABC Entertainment, Target, and many more

                 ·         Have their own personal monthly Newsletter

                 ·         Anyone can raise funds for RAINN

                 ·         You can volunteer for RAINN

                 ·         They provide tips on how to keep safe from sexual assault

       RAINN is located in Washington, DC, but because it’s partnered with many other organizations, you can go on their website and find local charities who work closely with them. On a local level, here in Greensboro we have an organization partnered with RAINN, Family Service of the Piedmont. This charity provides programs not only on sexual abuse, but they also provide programs on Domestic Violence, Family Preservation, In Home Therapy and Support, and Children’s Advocacy centers. To bring awareness to sexual assault and the other programs it offers, this charity offers many community events; some would consist of Super Hero Dash, Clay Smith’s Hope Chest, and the Oyster Roast. All of these events are done to bring the community together in a way that we will learn to help each other.Yet on a more personal level this organization definitely provides help to victims, this is also done with their hotlines.
http://www.familyservice-piedmont.org/

       Writing about this issue wasn't something I immediately thought of when choosing a topic, I was actually having difficulty with it because their are many world issues that crossed my mind, but how just pick one? Than all of a sudden sexual assault came into my mind; at first I was a little nervous about writing about this topic because it's a serious issue that is very sensitive for those who've experienced it, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that people need to know about this issue that is quickly being seen more often. As I sit down to watch the news sometimes, their can't be one news broadcast where they don't mention anything about someone being sexually assaulted and that's unfortunate. More people are falling victim to this horrendous act; people these day's don't really have time to sit down and watch the news because of the fast moving pace of their lives, so they don't witness these stories. I as a person am touched to see how children, women, and men have to go through an experience like that and have to cope with it alone or have to be called out and made the center of attention when they're still having a hard time with it. Coming to the realization that this happens everyday has definitely been an eye opener of how many people go through this experience; having to imagine someone having to deal with this alone, being too afraid to share it with someone because of what people might think or say, is something that they should have to go through alone. RAINN as well as the many other organizations that specialize in this issue would not only benefit EGHS students, but also anyone who would be willing to make a change or help because it opens you up to helping those who can't help themselves. We can make a change by shattering the silence.