The Trail Violence Against Women In Relationships (VAWIR) Committee is holding its annual Clothesline Project Display on Tuesday, April 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Trail Ferraro Foods patio near the store entrance.
The event includes a free hot dog lunch, a display of helpful resources and an opportunity to focus on the issue of violence against women.
The idea for the Clothesline Project originated the USA in 1990 and has since spread around the world from Australia to Africa to Lebanon to Trail B.C.
The concept was based on laundry traditionally being women’s work. In close knit communities, this task gave women the opportunity to talk and to tell each other their stories while hanging out the wash.
Through the violence against women focus of the Clothesline Project, women can now tell their stories in their own unique way by drawing and writing messages on T-shirts which are then hung up for the community to see and to learn.
Every year, during BC’s Prevention of Violence Against Women Week, the VAWIR Committee sponsors the Clothesline Project to raise awareness on gender based violence.
It is a colourful and thought-provoking display created by a variety of community members telling their stories of how domestic and other violence has affected their lives and sending messages of their longing for peaceful change.
The Trail Area VAWIR Inter-Agency Committee is made up of representatives from RCMP Victim Services, Mental Health andSubstance Use Services, the Mental Health Club House, Ministry of Children and Family Development, RCMP, Probation and Trail FAIR’s WINS Transition House, Stop the Violence Counselling and Specialized Victim Services.
Thanks to Ferraro Foods for donating the display space and lunch supplies.