Project Anchor- adolescent victims of sexual abuse

Thank you to all those who have contributed to the success of our program: Project Anchor!  Your contributions have made a difference in the lives of adolescent victims of trauma. 

Our participants have successfully complete the 12 weeks of SESSION 1 where they worked on issues such as: Anger, Secrets, Inner child, Oppression and Needs.  We finished off SESSION 1 with a burning ceremony.  This allows participants to write out any last "icky" details and throw them into the fire! This exercise is quite powerful and healing for all involved.

Participants will spend the next 10-12 weeks working on issues such as: Openness, Willingness, Negative Self Talk, Emotional Reasoning, Should Statements and Codependency.  This week, participants will spend time looking at their own behaviors and seeking to identifying repeating patterns. We have incorporated the following poem into this stage of the program; we thought you would enjoy it.

"Autobiography in Five Short Chapters" by Portia Nelson

Chaper 1

I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.  I fall in

I am lost...I am helpless.  It isn't my fault.  It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter 2

I walk down the same street.  There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.  I pretend I don't see it.  I fall in again.

I can't believe I am in the same place.  But, it isn't my fault.  It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter 3

I walk down the same street.  There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.  I see it is there. I still fall in.  It's a habit.

My eyes are open. I know where I am.  It is my fault.  I get out immediately.

Chapter 4

I walk down the same street.  There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.  I walk around it.

Chapter 5

I walk down another street.

Links:

• Shadows of Innocence Trailer

The official launch of Project Anchor was January 16. 2013!  We are off to a great start. The first 12 weeks of sessions focus on the victimization of violence in ones life and validates both their feelings and their experiences.  This gives the participant time to process the trauma in a safe and supportive environment.

The staff of Fair Haven Center for Women is deeply committed to the success of this program.  It is our desire to empower and equip young adolescent victims of violence with tools that will help them both heal their past and succeed in the present!

So far, our program has addressed: Victimization, Labeling Abuse, and Loss.  During the group; participants have used art mediums to process thoughts and deep feelings. Participants have created a collage, created a tree (on paper and labeling roots and leaves), journaling assignment which are placed in their own scrapbook which participants will take with them upon completation of the program. 

This weeks lesson is on Innocence.  This weeks activity will consist of cloth shoes.  Participants will be given a pair of white shoes and will be asked to decorate the left shoe to show the pain that was left in ones life after their innocence was robbed by abuse.  (We will use the right shoe in another activity later in the program.)

As our participants allow, we will be posting pictures of the art projects. 

One final note: Fair Haven Center for Women had the opportunity to participate in the soon to be released documentary: Shadows of Innocence.  One of our Project Anchor participants participated in the taping, along with staff and adult clients from our Adult Services Program.  It is due to be aired on February 28. 2013 on public telvision.  You can view the trailer on youtube.

Thank you to all who have supported Project Anchor and who continue to support our efforts.  It is only because of your generosity and support that we are able to offer these services to those so desperately in need. 

Links:

• Trailer for Shadows of Innocence