HISTORY of WAYVE
In May 2001 Howard Munroe, a 20-year-old black man, was stabbed to death by white youth in Kitchener's Victoria Park.As a result of the community's response to this murder, the Waterloo Region Youth Action Committee partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association to create a program aimed at dealing with violence among youth.
WHAT IS WAYVE
WAYVE stands for Working Against Youth Violence Everywhere, and is a peer-led violence prevention program created for youth, by youth, in the Waterloo Region (Ontario, Canada).
WAYVE's purpose is to address youth-identified issues such as bullying and cyber-bullying, harassment, racism and discrimination, youth suicide, self-harm and gang violence. Trained to be aware of sensitive youth issues, WAYVE team members provide support to peers and community groups through education and awareness of local resources.
WHO IS WAYVE
The WAYVE team consists entirely of youth volunteers from several different high schools in the Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge area. These volunteers are supported by:
- Guidance counselors and other staff in their schools
- A facilitator from CMHA
- A steering committee made up of community members concerned with youth violence-related issues.
HOW DOES WAYVE WORK?
The WAYVE team works to prevent violence in schools by:
- Providing peer education in classrooms through presentations and assemblies and acting as role models.
- Providing information and support to peers.
- Raising awareness of ways to deal with bullying and discrimination.
- Generating discussion among youth regarding issues related to violence.
The WAYVE team is a presence in the community by:
- Giving anti-violence presentations to community groups and neighborhood associations.
- Acting as school ambassadors by participating in community-wide violence prevention campaigns and creating special events.
- Leading working groups with other youth-focused organizations.
- Providing information about WAYVE activities to other organizations concerned about youth violence.
JOIN WAYVE
WAYVE recruits for their Regional Presentation Team in the fall of each year. In-school teams also start at the beginning of the school year. If you're interested in starting a violence prevention group at your school, find a supportive teacher or guidance counselor to help you get started. WAYVE started with a small group of concerned individuals -- just like you!