Talking about healthy relationships important, says Boers
OPINION
By Mackenzie Boers
Flamborough Review
Thursday, December 1, 2022
When I graduated from high school, I knew next to nothing about consent or gender-based violence and didn’t have the words to speak up against stereotypes associated with it.
I didn’t recognize that being catcalled was a form of violence or how important boundary setting is in relationships. Then in university, I joined a team similar to Healthy Youth Network’s HEART (Healthy Education About Relationships Team), the Consent Peer Education Program.
I started having conversations about these topics with peers who also didn’t understand the importance of consent or who were uncomfortable having these conversations at all because they never had before.
That’s why HEART is so important. Youth and children need to have conversations when they’re younger about healthy relationships and consent, especially because it can apply to all relationships — friends, family, dating — and in many different situations. I am excited to be the program co-ordinator of this team to start that conversation in high schools.
We are currently recruiting students from both Waterdown District High School and Sir Allan MacNab Secondary School to be a part of HEART. Throughout the academic year, our student teams will plan events and initiatives with the goal of addressing persistent and harmful gender stereotypes and building healthy relationships with peers to break the cycle of gender-based violence.
They can earn volunteer hours through their time on HEART and they will gain valuable skills and knowledge that will be useful for whatever comes after high school and their personal life as well. Since having conversations about these topics in university, I have been able to develop healthier relationships where boundaries are respected, feelings are safe to share and more trust is built.
Is your youth interested in social justice? Gender equality? Inclusivity? Let them know about our team!
All grades and genders are welcome to apply. They can learn more and sign up at youth.healthyouthnetwork.ca/heart.
Mackenzie Boers is the Ally Program co-ordinator for Healthy Youth Network. She can be reached at mackenzie@healthyouthnetwork.ca.
