Protecting God's Children - Written Reflection One - Parker Michel

This week, Alli, Katie, and I went to Richmond, KY for VIRTUS Training. Because we are going to be working at Seton, a Catholic school, it was required for us to have this training before working with the girls.

I've gone to Catholic school my whole life, so I knew about VIRTUS Training before. Both of my parents are VIRTUS trained, as are a lot of my friends. They have all gone through the training for various different reasons--to chaperone a field trip, to help with a retreat, to volunteer in Catholic schools. Because I know so many people who have had VIRTUS Training, I have heard about it. I knew that the material and information would be kind of tough to hear and get through. 

This training was indeed tough to get through. It wasn't as long as I'd thought it would be, but the topics and testimony were sad and scary. In the first half of the training, they played a video with testimony from children who had been sexually abused. It was so sad and so disgusting--it made me angry. After hearing the testimony, we discussed shortly in small and large groups. We talked about our reaction to the video and how it made us feel. After this, we watched another video. This video was horrible--we heard from the abusers.

They talked about everything. They discussed their "tactics" for getting children to trust them. They talked about how many children they had abused and what they liked and how they went about doing it. In a lot of cases, they said that the children wouldn't tell because they would make it feel like it was their fault. This, to me, was so sad. These poor children carry a horrible burden because they feel like it is their fault that something as horrible as sex abuse is happening to them. 

The message of VITRUS training is amazing--every single person who is with children/around children should be there to protect them. Every person in the world is a child of God, and we are here to look out for each other and protect each other. At the end of the session, our group leader talked about the many little things we can do to protect children. She talked about things I had never thought about before--making sure doors are locked, and empty rooms are closed off. She said that we need to take away any opportunity for a child to be abused. 

From the Archdiocese of Kansas's Webpage

After going through this session, I feel like I am more aware and more able to protect children. I am really excited to begin working with GOTR tomorrow, and I can't wait to meet the girls and get to know them. 

Almost Set! Written Reflection One - Kylie Russ

Unfortunately, we have not yet been able to go the Seton to work with the girls.  It has been a long journey of obstacles and rampant email communication, but I am ecstatic that we are finally all set to work with Girls on the Run for the first time tomorrow!

Interestingly enough, that will be the first lesson we teach tomorrow: cooperation. Tomorrow we will be doing activities and a running workout that requires teamwork, where everyone joins in to do their part. I am excited for this lesson, because I have seen the value in communicating and willingness to cooperate through my partnership with Girls on the Run.  If it weren't for our daily emails, my teammates and I may not have been able to overcome the obstacles that we have faced these past few weeks. 

Which obstacles again?  As I mentioned in my earlier post, we were delayed because we had to complete the required 3 hour Virtus training.  I was not sure what this training would encompass, but when I went to my  training last Saturday, September 26, I discovered that it was an effort to prevent child molestation in Catholic settings.  Although Virtus is not affiliated with Girls on the Run specifically, we had to attend this training because our GOTR site is a Catholic school. 

The Virtus training was an eye-opening experience.  The program consisted of two videos with interviews of real-life victims of sexual assault, with a discussion of those videos following.  It was highly disturbing to hear these stories, but it was even more heartbreaking to realize that these horrible, dehumanizing things do happen. After hearing from the victims, we discussed warning signs of child molestation, including an adult's desire to be alone with a child, giving gifts to the child to get them to trust or like the adult, and excessive touching or tickling.

Although it was alarming, I am glad that I completed the Virtus training because I am now able to incorporate what I learned to protect the precious children I will be working with at Girls on the Run. Everyone has the right to a happy and healthy childhood - one where they do not have to worry about their safety.  Sadly, sexual abuse of children is a true issue.  It is one that we need to stand up to fight back, rather than turn a shoulder and look the other way.  I will do everything in my power to protect the little girls from anything that should be of harm to them.  A girl's confidence is often shaky as it is, so I will be sure to always make sure to encourage them and let them know that we are here to listen if they ever need to talk.

Hopefully, all goes well tomorrow.  I am both excited and anxious to finally be able to meet the girls. Everything is set and ready to go - let the adventure begin!

Daughter's of a King - Written Reflection One Allison Butler

Although I have yet to start my Girls on the Run experience, I have furthered my perspective on the purpose of this organization and my role in it through attending Virtus training this week. Virtus training is not specific to Girls on the Run, but rather a requirement for volunteering in a Catholic school or church. It is a two hour program dedicated to informing adults about the dangers of sexual abuse and instructing on how to prevent it.
 
Sexual abuse of children is an uncomfortable topic, but one that needs to be talked about in order to help stop it. My heart broke as I watched a video of men convicted of sexual abuse detail how they went about making children feel comfortable around them in order to abuse them. Sexual predators often use the vulnerability of children to their advantage. This is definitely hard to think about, but it is valuable information in the context of preventing sexual abuse.
There was no direct mention of Girls on the Run, but as I listened I filtered all the information through the perspective of working with young girls. One of Girls on the Run's main goals is to build up girls' confidence in themselves. This confidence is imperative in keeping girls safe! So many young girls are left feeling worthless and alone, whether because of an abusive or absent father or just from the pressures of this world. If a young girl is confident in who she is, she will be much more likely to stand firm if she thinks someone is behaving inappropriately and be confident enough to communicate her concerns to someone.
My heart for young girls everywhere is for them to know that they are priceless, the daughter of a King! I am a believer in God, that He created the world, sent his Son to die to give us grace, and that He is coming back for us one day! Because of this belief, I view each and every person as a unique child of God, created by Him and for Him. I hope that I can show these precious girls at Girls on the Run this truth.
 
I can only imagine how much more confident they would be if they knew the God who created the universe was on their side! I cannot wait to get started on Monday!

Written Reflection One - Chandler Unfried: Ready! Set! GO!

 With any journey or any race, there are going to be obstacles in your path.  These obstacles more often than not make the journey meaningful or at least provide you with more insight than you had before.  Our service-learning group has experienced one of these obstacles already leading up to our service.  As I touched on in my last post, we were informed that we were required to complete a three hour Virtus training session on our own time before we could begin our service.  This training was required by the elementary school, Seton Catholic School, we will be serving this semester.  The program focuses on protecting the children from wrongdoing by the people that work with them in religious places or programs.  Unfortunately, we have not been able to serve thus far because of limited availability of training sessions, but we plan to serve this upcoming Monday.  YAY!!

My excitement to serve this week is through the roof!  On Monday, we will be teaching the girls about cooperation.  I think this is very fitting for our opening lesson with the girls.  Cooperation has been important in our journey thus   Things have not run exactly smoothly, but everyone has pulled together.  No one has complained, and it is finally all going to pay off when we meet those amazing little ladies!  Reading over the lesson we will be presenting on Monday, two points stood out to me: respect and diversity.  Respect goes a long way when you are working with a group.  Everyone is going to have different opinions and values, and that is okay!  Diversity can seem like a challenge in cooperative group activities, but once you dive in and really begin to work together, you will realize that diversity is what drives and enhances the ideas that will solve your problem or achieve your goal.  For this to work, however, respect is KEY!  Without it, nothing will get done.  Creative and innovative ideas will not be heard for fear of disrespect.  Group work should provoke a positive environment, not a negative one!  As a group, we will be working together, cooperating, to get this point across to the girls through team-building games and exercises. 

far.

We are coming into the girls’ journey through the program about halfway through.  I am confident that they have grown in the past weeks, but there is always room to grow.  I am excited to have the opportunity to be a part of that growth.  I would not be surprised if I too walk (or run) away from this program having grown myself.  My anticipation is overflowing.  It is almost time to start!  On your marks!  Get ready! Get set!  GO!