Girl Scouts reach out to young girls on violence
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

NORTH BRUNSWICK - Love shouldn't hurt.

This message against domestic violence is being posted around town by local Girl Scouts, who have hung ribbons and signs on major roadways and who are training for a program to teach younger children about the dangers of dating and bullying.

Rachel Druker and Emily Dellasandro, both high school sophomores, spent two hours in the beginning of the month to hang 50 ribbons on telephone poles in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

"It's important for [people] to notice them," Druker said, "and maybe question what it is or maybe look at it. It's promoting awareness."

With the assistance of Cynthia Baumgartner of the North Brunswick Domestic Violence Team, four other teens are also working toward a domestic violence badge. The sophomores are learning about the basics of violent relationships and proper dating etiquette and will apply those scenarios to younger girls. For the middle school students, bullying, conflict resolution and harassment will be addressed, while the elementary levels will focus on bullying and learning to say no. Thus far, the Scouts have completed six hours of training with about four more to go.

"I was pleased that these young girls took a serious interest in the domestic violence program," Baumgartner said. "We are hopeful that the program is embraced as well as we expect and that the girls can benefit from the information shared."

The lesson plans are based on an existing program in South Plainfield, which uses videos, lectures, role-playing, projects, poster coloring and other activities to spread the message of awareness. Each Scout will have a kit filled with materials to teach to the younger Scouts during their meetings, and they will run an entire demonstration.

Brownies as young as 6 years old will be exposed to the program; one, because they can still be surrounded by abusive friendships and two, because it is a long time before they will be involved in a dating relationship.

"Just knowing at an early age [is important]," Druker said. "Everyone is taught at an early age, don't talk to strangers, don't go to strangers, but no one has really thought them about domestic violence. The sooner they learn, the more they're aware, and the more resources they'll have, so the easier it will be for them to reach out to somebody."

At the conclusion, the participating girls will receive a patch that was designed by Baumgartner, a purple dove with the words "domestic violence awareness." By wearing the patch, the Scouts hope to spread knowledge of the program and provide resources to affected people in the community.

"We're letting people know there is help out there. They're not alone. There is help out there and no one is judging them," Druker said.

In addition, as part of the Community Park Butterfly Garden, the girls planted a bush for domestic violence, which has one large purple ribbon and small purple pins that residents can take for themselves. They hung pull-tabs at supermarkets around town with the contact information for the Women Aware shelter in New Brunswick and made bookmarks with agency contact information. They also distributed purple ribbons at the Middlesex County Fair and handed out bookmarks

The Scouts were also honored by the Township Council with a Proclamation for their efforts this month.

Statistics say domestic violence will affect one out of four women in their lifetimes through emotional, physical, verbal and mental abuse. For more information, contact Women Aware at (732) 249-4504, the New Jersey State Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 225-0196 or the Middlesex County Rape Crisis Intervention Center at (877) 665-7273. To learn more about the North Brunswick Domestic Violence Team, call (732) 247-0922 ext. 330.