Healthy Youth Network is excited to partner with Interval House of Hamilton on their “Be More Than A Bystander” (BMTAB) Program!
BMTAB is a campaign that engages male leaders with community youth, to address gender-based violence by engaging in prevention strategies. Youth play an integral role in helping change the culture where women experience violence at nearly double the rate as men do; by raising awareness and learning safe tools to disrupt the cycle of gender-based violence.
In 2016, Interval House of Hamilton purchased the rights to Be More Than A Bystander and brought the program to The City of Hamilton through MentorAction. Learn more.
Parent Information Sheet to BMTAB
Below you can find a downloadable file that provides a quick overview of Be More Than A Bystander, what we are doing for the month of February to promote the campaign, some guiding questions to start those conversations as well we links to further resources and where to go for help or to report gender-based violence.
Why Is BMTAB Important To Us?
Studies have shown that younger women were most at risk of violent victimization, according to both police-reported and self-reported victimization data. The risk generally decreases as women age.
The police-reported rate of violent crime against women aged 15 to 24 was 42% higher than the rate for women aged 25 to 34, and nearly double the rate for women aged 35 to 44.”
-Statistics Canada
Teen dating violence happens to both young women and men, although females between 15-19 experience 10x more violence in relationships than young men”
-Statistics Canada
Therefore, the importance of the Be More Than A Bystander program is integral to creating systemic change, starting with our youth who are the age group most at risk.
For more stats, information, resources and support on gender-based violence.
Ways To Get Involved For February
February is Be More Than A Bystander Month, meaning it is a month full of opportunities to engage and educate our youth and the Hamilton community in creating a safer place with the hopes of eliminating all forms of violence, specifically gender-based violence.
Healthy Youth Network is working with WDHS students and their Youth Impact Team to adopt the program within the school and community respectively, with the use of social media to spread word and engage peers to participate in various challenges and competitions.
Take the Pledge to be a Steel City Ally
I agree to take my #firststepfirstchange towards ending gender-based violence. I believe every person has a right to live violence-free and feel safe in their home and in their community. My action to end gender-based violence starts today.
We encourage all youth and parents to take the pledge to be allies within in Hamilton to create a safer community for all. It starts with you.
Follow us @healthyouthnetwork on Instagram and Facebook to see our giveaway details when you like, share, comment and pledge your allegiance for your chance to WIN! Three winners will be chosen at random and have the chance to win;
A) 1 grey large Hamilton Bulldog hoodie (value: $55)
B) 1 large 2021 Sideline Practice Tee Hamilton TiCats (value $39)
C) 1 pair of Bulldog mittens with 1 CCM Bulldog winter hat
Wear Purple Day: February 9th
Show your support to end gender-based violence and Be More Than A Bystander by wearing purple and opening up the table for conversations. Spread the word, and show off your spirit! Wear purple and encourage your kids to do the same so they see the influence in schools and in their homes!
Why Wear Purple?
Battered women chose purple as an evolution of the lavender from decades past. It’s seen as a color of royalty and is already associated with females anyway.”
-Rose M. Garrity, President of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV)
The women’s suffrage movement utilized purple, white and gold because those were the colours of the National Women’s Party. The colours originated in England and symbolized “purity, hope and loyalty.”
Flashing forward to July 9, 1978, nearly 100,000 advocates of equal rights for women marched in Washington, D.C., many dressed in lavender. In October 1981, the NCADV observed a “Day of Unity,” and a majority of participants also chose to wear lavender or purple.
The Day of Unity later turned into a week of activities held at local, state and national levels. In October 1987, the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed, and again, purple-hued clothing was widely embraced by participants.
This progression of events helped solidify the adoption of purple for marketing and promotional purposes by domestic violence shelters and advocacy organizations. “There’s a lot of use of the colour in the movement and people know what it means,” Garrity said. Learn more.
Poster Competition
If your child is looking to participate in some way by showing support, encourage them to create a poster and enter our contest. Get creative and make a poster to promote either “Be More Than A Bystander” or “Steel City Allies” to show your support in ending gender-based violence!
Contest rules:
- Contestants can post about “Be More Than A Bystander” or about “Steel City Allies”; which should include the link to www.mentoraction.org and #firststepfirstchange
- Posters can be made in any format; hand crafted or digitally designed
- There should not be any graphic depictions of violence
- Posters will be submitted into the competition by sending a copy/photo of it to info@healthyouthnetwork.ca by February 23rd, 2022 to be reviewed
The best three posters will be shared through Healthy Youth Networks, MentorAction and Interval House of Hamilton’s social media and printed/distributed throughout the Hamilton community to promote the campaign!
FAQ’s & Resources
How can I be more than a bystander?
- Start by raising awareness of the campaign, having those tough conversations with your children, encourage them to participate in social media contests, and by wearing purple on Feb. 9th!
What steps does my child take if they see or know of someone being harmed?
- Tell them to never put themselves in harms way
- They can ask the person if they need help
- They should talk to a trusted adult; parent, teacher
- They can tell the person to stop
- Report to a resource
Where do I find help for my child or myself?
- WAWG.ca –> scroll down to “Find the Help You Need”
- Find the help you need relating to sexual or domestic violence for:
- Recent Victim
- Someone You Know
- Survivor
- SACHA Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services, offering free and confidential 24/7, one-on-one crisis counselling services
- 905-875-1555: 24 hour phone line
