PUHI — Domestic violence awareness is only one campaign celebrated by the Kaua‘i Community College students under the supervision and direction of Frances Dinnan. Dinnan, in partnership with the YWCA of Kaua‘i, launched Monday a week-long campaign for Domestic Violence
PUHI — Domestic violence awareness is only one campaign celebrated by the Kaua‘i Community College students under the supervision and direction of Frances Dinnan.
Dinnan, in partnership with the YWCA of Kaua‘i, launched Monday a week-long campaign for Domestic Violence Awareness as clotheslines bearing T-shirts fluttered in the brisk wind despite being soggy from the passing overnight showers.
“Students come between classes and inscribe messages, many anti-violence in nature and others oriented towards love and peace,” Dinnan, a counselor and coordinator of the Preventing Violence Against Women Task Force. “The shirts will go up again Wednesday when people can join the students at the Learning Resource Center and create their own T-shirts, either in cloth or on Manila paper between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.”
The goal is to surpass last year’s supply of shirts, which numbered about 40, flying around the LRC from the tree branches.
“Last year, we had shirts all over the trees,” Dinnan said. “We want to surpass that number this year.”
Dinnan said KCC is a perfect place for the Clothesline Project because domestic violence affects young people between the ages of 14 through 34 years old.
“These are our kids,” she said. “One in every four females will become a victim of domestic violence, and one in every six males will become a victim.”
Domestic violence is one of the most serious problems nationally and in Hawai‘i, states a report from the state’s Attorney General.
It not only affects the immediate victim, usually a wife, or mother, but also her children.
The report states existing research suggests that domestic violence affects children negatively in physical and emotional terms, and is becoming increasingly evident that domestic violence and child abuse are likely to co-occur.
In addition to the Clothesline Project, Dinnan said Verizon people will be on hand Friday for the airing of “Amy’s Story” from 2 to 4 p.m. in the KCC Office of Continuing Education and Training, Room 106.
“In addition to domestic violence, this has overtones on workplace violence,” Dinnan said of the film which demonstrates the systematic failures which ultimately led to the death of a continuously abused woman.
On Wednesday, the YWCA of Kaua‘i Candlelight Vigil will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the St. Michael’s and All Angels Church in Lihu‘e.
Dinnan said in addition to the Domestic Violence Awareness campaign, she also spearheads the Red Shoes campaign, or Sexual Assault Awareness, in April, and the Red Flag campaign, or Dating Violence Awareness, in February.
“All of this is done in partnership with the YWCA of Kaua‘i and all are relevant to our students,” Dinnan said.
For more information on the Domestic Violence Awareness campaign contact Frances Dinnan at 245-8381.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
